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WESLEY’S  DESIGNATED  SUCCESSOR 


2Ij.c  getter.^,  anb  ^ite»:arg  ^abaiu'.i 

OF  THE 

REV.  JOHN  WILLIAM  LLETCHLR, 

Vicar  of  Madtlcy^  Shropshire. 


BY 

REV.  L.  TYERMAN, 

Al'THOR  OF 

•‘the  life  AIsD  times  of  the  rev.  SAMUEL  WESLEY,  M A.,  RECTOR  OF  EPWORTH 
“THE  LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  THE  REV.  JOHN  WESLEY,  M.A.  ; 

“ THE  LIFE  OF  THE  REV.  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD,  B.A.;'’ 

AND  “THE  OXFORD  METHODISTS.” 


^.c£a  J^xirlv : 

PHILLIPS  AND  HUNT. 
€h^chxmti  i 

WALDEN  AND  STOWE. 


MDCCCLXXXIII. 


8 

f U'S'tr 


^^birde  tps  ^0ofe  ta  mg 


W/io  has  shared  my  joys  and  sorrows  for  nearly 
thirty  years. 


L,  TYERMAN, 


679465 


PREFACE. 


“ EAN  GUILLAUME  DE  LA  FLECHERE,”  wrote 


Robert  Southey,  ‘‘  was  a man  of  rare  talents,  and 


rarer  virtue.  No  age  or  country  has  ever  produced  a man 
of  more  fervent  piety,  or  more  perfect  charity  ; no  Church 
has  ever  possessed  a more  apostolic  minister.  He  was  a 
man  of  whom  Methodism  may  well  be  proud,  as  the  most 
able  of  its  defenders  ; and  whom  the  Church  of  England 
may  hold  in  remembrance,  as  one  of  the  most  pious  and 
excellent  of  her  sons.’' 

“ Fletcher  was  a saint,”  said  Isaac  Taylor,  ‘‘  as  unearthly 
a being  as  could  tread  the  earth  at  all.” 

‘‘Fletcher,”  remarked  Robert  Hall,  “is  a seraph  who  burns 
with  the  ardour  of  divine  love.  Spurning  the  fetters  of 
mortality,  he  almost  habitually  seems  to  have  anticipated 
the  rapture  of  the  beatific  vision.” 

Dr.  Dixon,  one  of  the  greatest  of  Methodist  preachers, 
observed,  “ I conceive  Fletcher  to  be  the  most  holy  man 
who  has  been  upon  earth  since  the  apostolic  age.” 

No  apology  is  needed  for  publishing  the  life  of  such  a 
man,  unless  it  can  be  shown  that  a life  worthy  of  him  is 
already  in  existence. 

Excepting  the  brief  and  exceedingly  imperfect  biography 
by  the  Rev.  Robert  Cox,  in  1822,  only  two  Lives  of  Fletcher 


VI 


Preface. 


have  been  published  since  his  death,  ninety-seven  years  ago  ; 
namely,  Wesley’s  in  1786,  and  Benson’s  in  1804. 

It  is  true  that,  in  1790,  the  Rev.  Joshua  Gilpin,  Vicar  of 
Rockwardine,  appended  twenty-nine  biographical  “ Notes  ” 
to  different  chapters  of  Fletcher’s  Portrait  of  St.  Paul  ; ” 
but  the  facts  they  contained,  in  addition  to  those  which 
Wesley  had  already  given,  were  not  many. 

A year  later,  in  1791,  the  Rev.  Melville  Horne,  Curate  of 
Madeley,  published  Posthumous  Pieces  of  the  late  Rev. 
John  William  De  La  Flechere,”  a volume  of  435  pages, 
nearly  400  of  which  are  filled  with  Fletcher’s  Letters  to  his 
friends.  This  volume  has  been  of  great  service  to  me  in 
the  present  work.  Many  quotations  are  made  from  it,  and 
are  indicated  by  the  footnotes,  ‘‘Letters,  1791.” 

When  Fletcher  died,  some  of  his  admirers  wished  Mr. 
Ireland  to  be  his  biographer ; others  desired  Fletcher’s 
widow  to  undertake  the  task.  Both  of  them  judiciously 
declined.  Wesley  was  then  fixed  upon.  He  asked  Mr. 
Ireland  to  supply  him  with  materials,  but  Mr.  Ireland  refused  : 
Mrs.  Fletcher,  however,  rendered  him  important  help.  In 
unpublished  letters  to  Sarah  Crosby,  she  writes  : — 

“ Mr.  Ireland  knew  and  loved  my  dear  husband  as  scarcely 
any  other  person  did  ; and  if  he  chooses  to  print  a journal 
of  their  travels  and  of  the  great  spiritual  labours  of  which 
he  was  an  eye-witness,  it  would  not  be  wrong.  But  this  is 
not  his  intention.  He  only  wishes  to  gather  materials  for 
me.  With  a good  deal  of  labour,  I have  collected  some 
sweet  fragments,  on  different  subjects,  from  little  pocket- 
books,  but  I have  handed  them  to  Mr.  Wesley,  who,  however, 
tells  me  he  has  done  nothing  towards  the  Life,  and  that  he 
has  enough  to  occupy  his  time  for  a year  to  come.  Indeed, 
he  seems  to  be  in  doubt  whether  he  will  be  able  to  write 


Preface. 


Vll 


the  Life  at  all.  I hope  the  accounts  I have  given  him  will 
not  be  shortened  ; if  they  be,  I shall  repent  that  I did  not 
print  them  myself.’' 

This  was  written  on  June  20,  1786,  and  shows  that  ten 
months  after  Fletcher’s  death,  Wesley  had  not  even  begun 
Fletcher’s  biography.  Fourteen  weeks  afterwards,  he  made  a 
start.  An  extract  from  his  journal  is  worth  quoting  : — 

‘'1786.  September  25.  Monday.  We  took  coach”  at 
Bristol,  “in  the  afternoon  ; and  on  Tuesday  morning  reached 
London.  I now  applied  myself  in  earnest  to  the  writing  of 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  Life,  having  procured  the  best  materials  I 
could.  To  this  I dedicated  all  the  time  I could  spare  till 
November,  from  five  in  the  morning  till  eight  at  night. 
These  are  my  studying  hours  ; I cannot  write  longer  in  a 
day  without  hurting  my  eyes.” 

For  little  more  than  a month  the  venerable  biographer, 
now  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  devoted  all  the 
time  he  “ could  spare  ” in  preparing  the  Life  of  one  whom 
he  pronounced  the  most  “ unblameable  man,  in  every  respect, 
that,  within  four-score  years,”  he  had  “ found  either  in 
Europe  or  America  ! ” The  biography  was  finished  in  the 
month  of  November,  and  in  December  was  published  with 
the  title  “A  Short  Account  of  the  Life  and  Death  of  the 
Rev.  John  Fletcher.  By  the  Rev.  John  Wesley.  Sequor, 
non  passibtis  cequis.  London,  1786.”  It  certainly  was  a 
"'Short  AccountP—2.  12 mo  volume  of  227  pages,  which 
would  have  been  much  smaller  if  the  type  and  the  space 
between  the  lines  had  been  different.  This  was  the  first 
Life  of  Wesley’s  greatest  friend,  and  his  “ Designated  Suc- 
cessor” ! The  veteran  was  far  too  busy  to  do  justice  to  his 
great  “ helper.” 

Eighteen  years  elapsed  before  another  and  larger  Life 


Vlll 


Preface. 


was  given  to  the  public.  This  was  undertaken  in  i8oi  by 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Benson,  at  the  request  of  Fletcher’s  widow, 
and  of  the  Methodist  Conference  of  that  year.  In  1804  it 
was  published  with  the  following  title  : — The  Life  of  the 
Rev.  John  W.  de  la  Flechere,  compiled  from  the  Narratives 
of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wesley  ; the  Biographical  Notes  of  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Gilpin  ; from  his  own  Letters ; and  other 
Authentic  Documents,  many  of  which  were  never  before 
published.  By  Joseph  Benson.”  This  is  the  only  Life  of 
Fletcher  which,  in  a separate  form,  has  been  circulated  during 
the  last  seventy-eight  years. 

Of  course,  during  this  long  period  of  nearly  fourscore 
years,  many  new  facts  and  incidents  concerning  Fletcher 
have  come  to  light ; and,  among  these  new  biographical 
materials,  special  mention  must  be  made  of  the  Fletcher 
MSS.  deposited  in  the  Wesleyan  Mission  House,  London, 
in  1862.  Since  then,  the  Methodist  ‘^Committee  on  Book 
Affairs  ” has  repeatedly  expressed  the  opinion  that  a new 
Life  of  Fletcher  ought  to  be  prepared,  and,  at  least,  two  of 
the  foremost  men  in  Methodism  have  been  requested  to 
undertake  the  work.  One  of  the  two  is  dead,  and  the  other 
seems  to  have  as  much  literary  labour  in  hand  as  he  is 
able  to  accomplish.  Under  such  circumstances,  I have  had 
the  temerity  to  attempt  the  task. 

I have  carefully  used  all  the  biographical  matter  that  I 
have  found  in  the  “ Short  Account  ” by  Wesley  ; in  the 
Letters  published  by  Melville  Horne;  in  Gilpin’s  Notes;” 
in  the  Life  by  Benson  ; in  the  Fletcher  MSS.,  just  mentioned  ; 
in  other  MSS.  belonging  to  myself ; in  MSS.  kindly  lent  to 
me  ; and  in  all  the  Methodist  and  other  publications  relating 
to  Fletcher  with  which  I am  acquainted. 

I have  no  artistic  talent ; and  if  I had,  I should  not 


Preface, 


IX 


. employ  it  in  writing  biographies.  In  such  publications  I 
am  only  desirous  to  see  the  man,  not  the  artist’s  drapery. 
I want  to  know  his  doings,  sayings,  and  sufferings,  rather 
than  to  read  philosophic  discourses  concerning  them.  My 
aim,  therefore,  from  first  to  last,  has  been  to  let  Fletcher 
speak  for  himself.  His  Letters  are  invaluable ; the  man 
who  can  read  them  without  being  profited  is  greatly  to  be 
pitied.  The  extracts  from  his  sermons  show  how  the  first 
Methodists  used  to  preach.  The  chapters  respecting  the 
Calvinian  controversy  may,  to  some  readers,  be  somewhat 
dry,  but  they  could  not  be  omitted,  because  that  controversy 
was  the  great  event  in  Fletcher’s  life,  and  hastened  his  death. 
Besides,  it  was  by  his  publications  on  this  subject  that  he 
rendered  service  to  Wesley  and  the  Methodist  movement, 
which  neither  Wesley  himself  nor  any  other  of  Wesley’s 
friends  could  have  furnished.  I have  refrained  from  dis- 
cussing the  truths  which  Fletcher’s  pen  defended  ; but  I 
have  said  enough  to  indicate  what  the  doctrines  were  which 
created  Methodism,  and  which  alone  can  perpetuate  its 
spiritual  life  and  power. 

The  portrait  of  Fletcher  is  taken  from  an  exceedingly 
scarce  engraving,  in  the  Methodist  Museum,  at  Centenary 
Hall,  London. 

I think  I may  say,  without  exposing  myself  to  the  charge 
of  arrogance  or  conceit,  that,  in  this  volume,  the  reader  will 
find  all  the  facts  of  any  importance  that  are  known  con- 
cerning Fletcher,  and  that  here,  more  than  in  any  previous 
publication,  is  illustrated  the  intellectual  and  saintly  character 
of  one  of  the  holiest  men  that  ever  lived. 

L.  TYERMAN. 

Stanhope  House,  Clapham  Park,  S.W. 

October  7,  1882. 


GENERAL  CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION. 


PAGE 

Wesley  requests  Fletcher  to  be  his  successor — Others  who  might 
have  been  designated  . i — ^ 


CHAPTER  I. 

From  Fletcher’s  Birth  to  his  coming  to  England  in  1752. 

Parentage  — Birthplace  — Early  piety  — Remarkable  deliverances 
from  danger — Education  at  Geneva — Removed  to  Lentzburg — 
Wishes  to  be  a soldier . 4 — 9 

CHAPTER  II. 

From  his  coming  to  England  to  his  Ordination,  1752 — 1757. 

Arrives  in  London — Admitted  to  Mr.  Burchell’s  school — Becomes 
tutor  to  sons  of  Thomas  Hill,  Esq. — Letter  to  his  brother  Henry 
— Introduced  to  Methodists — His  conversion — A millenarian — A 
Catechumen — Acquaintance  with  Mr.  Vaughan — Richard  Ed- 
wards, his  class-leader — Letters  to  Wesley — His  ordination  . 10 — 27 

CHAPTER  HI. 

From  His  Ordination  to  his  Settlement  at  Madeley, 
1757—1760. 

A favourite  among  the  first  Methodists — Preaches  in  Shropshire — 
Letter  to  Wesley — Thomas  Walsh — Letter  to  his  class-leader 
— Introduced  to  Lady  Huntingdon — Preaching  to  French  prisoners 
— Letter  to  Charles  Wesley — Letter  to  Sarah  Ryan — Christian 
Perfection — Fletcher  and  his  foes — Proposal  to  go  to  the  West 
Indies — Death  of  Thomas  Walsh — Letter  to  Charles  Wesley — A 
Convert — Conversion  of  Mr.  Richard  Hill — Temptation — Letters 
to  Charles  Wesley — Dorothy  Furley — Visits  Lady  Huntingdon — 

Her  ladyship’s  proposal — Fletcher’s  first  published  sermon — Earl 
Ferrars — Glorious  services  at  Everton — Choosing  a benefice — 
Letters  to  Lady  Huntingdon — Commencement  of  ministry  at 
Madeley 28 — 60 


Xll 


Contents. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

First  Two  Years  at  Madeley,  1760 — 1762.  page 

Madeley — Branded  a Methodist — Increasing  labours — Madeley 
Wood  and  Coalbrook  Dale — Rev.  Mr.  Prothero’s  sermon — The 
publicans — Fletcher’s  first  sermons  at  Madeley — Mary  Matthews 
— Answers  to  an  objection — '‘The  Rock  Church” — Letter  to  a 
Papist — Persecutions — Letter  to  Rev.  Mr.  Hutton — Testimony 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Gilpin  .........  61 — 83 

CHAPTER  V. 

Three  Quiet  Successful  Years.  1762 — 1765. 

Fanaticism  among  the  London  Methodists — Rules  of  Fletcher’s 
Methodist  Societies — A troublesome  member — A quiet  year — 
Reasons  for  and  against  matrimony — The  furious  butcher — Letters 
to  Miss  Hatton — ^Wesley’s  first  visit  to  Madeley — Simplicity  of 
living — Alexander  Mather — Fletcher  at  Breedon — Fletcher’s  first 
pastoral  letter — Fletcher  and  his  relatives  ....  84 — 105 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Two  Years  More.  1766 — 1767. 

Fletcher  depressed — Rejoicing  on  account  of  other  men’s  success — 
Letters  to  Miss  Hatton  and  Miss  Ireland — Thanks  for  apresent — An 
excursion  to  Brighton,  etc. — Pastoral  letter — Miss  Hatton  dying 
— Letter  to  Whitefield — Lady  Huntingdon  at  Madeley — Captain 
Scott — Fletcher  in  Yorkshire — Letter  to  Lady  Huntingdon — Rev. 
Cradock  Glascott — Trevecca  College — Fletcher  appointed  chap- 
lain of  the  Earl  of  Buchan — James  Glazebrook — “ Manifestations 
of  the  Son  of  God  ” 106 — 130 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Trevecca  College:  Visit  to  Switzerland,  etc.  1768 — 1770. 

Joseph  Easterbrook — Books  for  Trevecca  College — Letter  on  Con- 
versation— Expulsion  of  six  students  at  Oxford — Letter  to  White- 
field — Opening  of  Trevecca  College — Letters  to  Mr.  and  Miss 
Ireland — Rev.  John  Jones — Mr.  John  Henderson,  B.A. — First 
anniversary  of  Trevecca  College — Rev.  Walter  Sellon — Anti- 
Popery  sermon — Joseph  Benson — Letter  to  Mr.  Ireland — Visit 
to  Switzerland 13 1 — 163 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Commencement  of  the  Calvinian  Controversy.  1770 — 1771. 

Letter  to  masters  and  students  of  Trevecca  College — Fletcher  at 
Trevecca  College — Letter  to  Rev.  David  Simpson — Wesley’s 
Doctrinal  Minutes — Second  anniversary  of  Trevecca  College — 
Wesley’s  sermon  on  the  death  of  Whitefield — Letter  of  Lady 
Glenorchy — Joseph  Benson  dismissed  from  Trevecca  College — 
Fletcher’s  unpublished  letter  to  Wesley — Fletcher  resigns  his 


Contents. 


Xlll 


PAGE 

office  at  Trevecca — Important  unpublished  manuscript — The 
storm  brewing — Shirley’s  Circular  Letter — Fletcher’s  First 
Check  to  Antinomianism  ” — Shirley’s  '^Narrative” — Fletcher’s 
Letter  to  Shirley — Fletcher’s  Vindication  of  Wesley’s  “ Minutes  ” 

164—205 

CHAPTER  IX. 

^‘Second  Check  to  Antinomianism.”  1771. 

Letters  in  the  Gospel  Magazme — Unpublished  letter  to  Joseph 
Benson — Prevalent  Antinomianism — Richard  Hill’s  pamphlet 
respecting  a conversation  with  a monk  ....  206 — 217 

CHAPTER  X. 

''Third  Check  to  Antinomianism.”  1772. 

Edward  Elwall — Unpublished  letter  to  Sellon — Letter  to  the  Dublin 
Methodists — Richard  Hill’s  Five  Lette7^s — Fletcher’s  reply  to 
them— Divine  Grace  given  to  all — Good  men  doing  the  Devil’s 
work — Advices  to  Arminians 218 — 233 

CHAPTER  XL 

"Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism.”  1772. 

Richard  Hill’s  Review  of  all  the  Doctrines  taught  by  the  Rev. 

J.  Wesley — Richard  Hill’s  Six  Letters''’  to  Fletcher — Row- 
land Hill’s  Friendly  Remarks" — Logica  Genevensis" — 
Wesley’s  Remarks  on  Mr.  Hill's  Review" — Unpublished 
letter  by  John  Pawson — Fletcher  rebukes  Rowland  Hill — Ab- 
surdities of  Calvinism — Free  Will — Unpublished  letter  by  Richard 
Hill  to  Walter  Sellon 234 — 253 

CHAPTER  XII. 

"Appeal  to  Matter  of  Fact  and  Common  Sense.”  1772. 

Manuscript  lost — Dedication — Doctrine  of  Original  Sin — Colliers, 
bargemen,  and  iron- workers — England’s  favourite  amusements 
— Ten  inferences 254 — 262 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Wesley’s  Designated  Successor,  etc.,  etc.  1773. 

Wesley  requests  Fletcher  to  be  his  successor — Fletcher’s  reply — 
Wesley  respecting  Fletcher  and  Whitefield — Samuel  Bradburn 
visits  Fletcher — Correspondence  in  1773 — The  penitent  thief — 

The  earthquake — Fletcher’s  sermon  on  it  . . . . 263 — 278 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

"The  Finishing  Stroke,”  etc.  1773. 

" The  Finishmg  Stroke  " — " The  Farrago  Double  Distilled" — 
Berridge’s  " Christian  World  Unmasked" — Letters  by  Berridge 
— Richard  Hill  desiring  peace — Richard  Hill’s  " Three  Letters" 
to  Fletcher — ' ' Creed for  A rmmians  and  Peifectionists ' ' 279 — 293 


XIV 


Contents. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

‘‘Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism.”  1774.  page 
Toplady’s  letter  to  Ambrose  Serle — Logica  Geneveitsis  con- 
timied'^ — Remaining  differences — Fletcher  answering  Berridge 
— Wesley  on  Fletcher’s  “ Checks  — Lady  Huntingdon  wishes  an 
interview  with  Fletcher — Fletcher’s  reply — Fletcher  writing  and 
weary  ...  ........  294 — 301 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Further  Publications  in  1774. 

Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism'^ — Doleful 
picture — Letter  to  Lady  Huntingdon — Saving  Faith — The  Atha- 
nasian  Creed — Letters  to  J.  Benson  and  C.  Wesley  . . 302 — 311 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Publications  in  the  Year  1775. 

Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and Antinomianis7n  continued'"' — 

“ Scriphire  Scales" — “ The  Fictitious  and  the  Ge77uine  Creed'"'" 

— The  controversy  has  done  Fletcher  good — Rev.  Thomas  Reader 
visits  Fletcher — Christian  perfection — Letter  to  J.  Benson — 
Wesley  dangerously  ill — Charles  Wesley  writes  to  Fletcher — 
Fletcher’s  reply  — ‘‘Checks  to  A7itmomia7tism'"'  — Recon- 
ciliations— Dr.  Coke’s  Letter  to  Fletcher — Letter  to  C.  Wesley 

312—333 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Publications  in  the  Year  1776. 

Toplady — Fletcher’s  “ A7iswer  to  the  Vmdicatio7i  of  the  Decf'ees" 

— Toplady  attacks  Wesley — Fletcher  answers  Toplady — Review 
of  six  years’  work — Rev.  Caleb  Evans’  letter  on  Wesley’s  “ Calm 
Address" — Fletcher’s  “ Vindication  of  the  Calm  Address" 

— Mr.  Evans’  “Pe^ly"  to  Fletcher’s  “ Vindicatio7t" — Fletcher 
publishes  “ America7i  Patriotism" —K  Public  Fast — “The 
Bible  a7td  the  Sword" — The  Monthly  Review  on  Fletcher — 
Government  desires  to  reward  Fletcher  ....  334 — 353 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Correspondence  in  1776. 

Fletcher’s  labours  and  abstinence — Again  objects  to  become 
Wesley’s  successor — An  excursion  with  Wesley — Fletcher  dis- 
couraged— Unpublished  letter  by  J.  Benson — Another  work  for 
the  press — “ Methodism  and  A//// Mysticism — Fletcher 

dangerously  ill — C.  Wesley’s  hymn — Michael  Onions — Letters 
— Fletcher  apparently  dying — An  impromptu  hymn — Wesley 
escorts  Fletcher  to  London — Another  excursion  with  Wesley — ■ 
Second  visit  to  Berridge — Fletcher  and  Venn  at  St.  Neofs— Charles 


Contents. 


XV 


PAGE 

Greenwood — Fletcher  resides  with  him — ^Letter  ‘^to  the  parish- 
ioners of  Madeley  ” 354 — 375 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Publications  and  Correspondence  in  1777. 

The  Doctrines  of  Grace  and  Justice  equally  Essential  to  the 
Pure  Gospel^’’ — Fletcher  a millenarian — Bible  Arminianisni 
aitd  Bible  Calvinism'^ — The  Plan  of  Peconcilialio7z^' — ■ 
Another  letter  to  his  parishioners — Letter  to  W.  Wase — Letters 
to  Rev.  V.  Perronet  and  his  daughter — Fletcher  visited  by  his 
friends — Fletcher’s  letter  to  his  bishop — Charles  Perronet  dies 
— Fletcher’s  sojourn  at  Stoke  Newington — Removes  to  Mr. 
Ireland’s,  at  Brislington — Meets  Henry  Venn — Attends  Wesley’s 
Conference — Rev.  David  Lloyd — James  Rogers  visits  Fletcher — 
Letter  to  Rev.  V.  Perronet — Unpublished  letter  to  Miss  Bosanquet 
— Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald — Letters  to  her  and  to  Mrs.  Thornton — 
Preparing  to  leave  England — Farewell  letters  . . . 376 — 408 

CHAPTER  XXL 

A Long  Retirement.  1778 — 1781. 

Journey  to  the  south  of  France  — Unpublished  letter  to  Miss 
Bosanquet— Sermon  concerning  the  New  Birth — Letters  to  Rev. 

Mr.  Greaves,  W.  Perronet,  the  Wesley  Brothers,  and  Dr.  Conyers 
— The  Perronet  estate  in  Switzerland — Unpublished  letter  to  Mr. 
Power — Fletcher  among  children — Fletcher  and  his  nephew — 
Messages  to  Madeley — Preaching  at  an  execution — William 
Perronet  joins  Fletcher — A perilous  journey — Letter  to  Mr.  Ireland 
— Letters  to  Madeley- — Other  letters — Trials  in  Switzerland — ■ 

An  attack  of  rheumatism — Letter  to  his  curate — National  distress 
— Methodist  meeting  house  at  Madeley  Wood — W.  Perronet’ s 
unpublished  letter — In  a '‘miserable  lodging” — Loss  of  manu- 
scripts— Religion  in  Switzerland — Letters  to  Madeley — House  of 
Fletcher’s  nativity — Letters  to  W.  Wase,  J.  Owen,  and  M.  Onions 
— Joins  Mr.  Ireland  at  Montpelier — Return  to  England — Thomas 
Rankin  visits  Fletcher  at  Brislington — L^npublished  letter  to  Miss 
Bosanquet. 409 — 450 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Literary  Work  done  in  Retirement. 

Grace  el  la  Nature"'' — “ The  Portrait  of  St.  Paul""  451 — 459 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  First  Three  Months  after  the  Return  to  Madeley.  1781 

Affairs  in  confusion — Letter  to  Wesley — Rev.  Cornelius  Bayley — 
Correspondence  with  Miss  Loxdale — Letters  to  Wesley  and  T. 
Rankin— Attends  Wesley’s  Conference  at  Leeds — Joseph  Pescod’s 
letter — Fletcher  the  guest  of  Miss  Bosanquet — A remarkable 
meeting  at  Leeds — Sanctification — Visits  Sheffield  . , 460 — 472 


XVI 


Contents. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Fletcher’s  Marriage.  1781. 

Letters  to  Miss  Perronet  and  to  Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald — History  of 
Miss  Bosanquet — Her  Orphanage  at  Leyton — Her  fortune  and 
her  debts — Her  removal  to  Yorkshire — She  turns  farmer  and 
maltster — Debts  and  difficulties — Fletcher  proposes  to  marry  her — 
Fletcher  on  celibacy  — Unpublished  love-letter — Unpublished 
letters  to  Miss  Bosanquet’ s uncle  and  her  brother — Further 
correspondence  — Settling  affairs  in  Yorkshire — The  wedding 
and  letters  respecting  it  ......  . 473 — 500 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Two  Years  of  Married  Life  at  Madeley.  1782— 1783. 

How  Fletcher  began  the  year  1782 — Husband  and  wife  go  to 
Madeley — Wesley  visits  them — William  Tranter — Dr.  Jobson  and 
L.  Tyerman  at  Madeley — Letter  to  author  of  ‘^The  Fool  of 
Quality” — The  Methodists  of  Dublin  invite  Fletcher  and  his 
wife  to  visit  them — Mrs.  Fletcher’s  letter  to  Wesley — Fletcher 
has  an  accident  which  disables  him — Letter  to  Charles  Wesley 
— A new  poem — Nathaniel  Gilbert  and  Melville  Horne — Letters 
to  Mrs.  Thornton  and  to  John  Valton — Fletcher  and  his  wife 
visit  the  Dublin  Methodists  — Their  successful  labours  — Un- 
published letter,  thanking  them  for  their  services — Unpublished 
pamphlet  by  Fletcher — Fletcher  begins  Sunday  schools  at 
Madeley — Rev.  H.  Venn  visits  Fletcher  ....  501 — 529 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Last  Days  on  Earth.  1784 — 1785. 

Dr.  Coke  and  his  friends  begin  the  Methodist  Missionary  Society — 
Fletcher  one  of  the  first  subscribers — Unpublished  letter  by 
Dr.  Coke — Fletcher’s  unpublished  letter  to  Rev.  Mr.  Bouverot 
— Dr.  Priestley — Fletcher’ s ^ ^ Rational  Vindication  of  the  Catholic 
Faith  ’ ’ — Fletcher’ s ^ ‘ Socinianism  Unscri;ptural  ’ ’ — Fletcher’ s 
Millenarianism — Unpublished  letters  to  Mrs.  Smyth  and  to  Lady 
Mary  Fitzgerald — Fletcher  at  Wesley’s  Conference  at  Leeds — 
Sermons  preached— Fletcher  a peacemaker — Remarkable  scene 
— Fletcher  objected  to — Enoch  Wood  and  Fletcher’s  discourse 
on  Wesley’s  bust — Fletcher  in  his  Sentry  Box  ” — Letter  to  his 
god-son — Rev.  Charles  Simeon  visits  Fletcher — Modified  mil- 
lenarianism—Letters  to  Rev.  Peard  Dickenson  and  Rev.  Melville 
Horne — Mrs.  Fletcher  ill  of  fever — Letter  to  Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald 
— Fletcher  ill  of  fever — Mrs.  Fletcher’s  account  of  him — Last 
service  in  Madeley  Church — Dying — Death  and  burial — Mrs. 
Fletcher’s  letter  to  C.  Wesley — Wesley  preaches  Fletcher’s 
funeral  sermon — Testimonies  concerning  Fletcher — Inscription 
on  his  tombstone  — Inscription  on  the  tablet  in  City  Road 
Chapel  530—575 


INTRODUCTION. 

Eighteen  years  before  his  death,  Wesley  wrote  the 
following  letter  to  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley — 

January ^ i773* 

Dear  Sir, — What  an  amazing  work  has  God  wrought  in  these 
kingdoms,  in  less  than  forty  years  ! And  it  not  only  continues,  but 
increases,  throughout  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland ; nay,  it  has  lately 
spread  into  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Carolina. 
But  the  wise  men  of  the  world  say,  ^ When  Mr.  Wesley  drops,  then  all 
this  is  at  an  end  ! ’ And  so  it  surely  will,  unless,  before  God  calls  him 
hence,  one  is  found  to  stand  in  his  place.  For,  ovk.  ayaSov  TroXvKOLpavir). 
Ety  KOLpavos  eora).  I see  more  and  more,  unless  there  be  one  Trpoeo-ra)?,  the 
work  can  never  be  carried  on.  The  body  of  the  preachers  are  not 
united : nor  will  any  part  of  them  submit  to  the  rest ; so  that  either 
there  must  be  one  to  preside  over  all,  or  the  work  will  indeed  come 
to  an  end. 

But  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? qualified  to  preside  both  over 
the  preachers  and  people  ? He  must  be  a man  of  faith  and  love,  and 
one  that  has  a single  eye  to  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 
He  must  have  a clear  understanding ; a knowledge  of  men  and  things, 
particularly  of  the  Methodist  doctrine  and  discipline  ; a ready  utterance ; 
diligence  and  activity,  with  a tolerable  share  of  health.  There  must  be 
added  to  these  favour  with  the  people,  with  the  Methodists  in  general. 
For,  unless  God  turn  their  eyes  and  their  hearts  towards  him,  he  will  be 
quite  incapable  of  the  work.  He  must  likewise  have  some  degree  of 
learning,  because  there  are  many  adversaries,  learned  as  well  as  un- 
learned, whose  mouths  must  be  stopped.  But  this  cannot  be  done 
unless  he  be  able  to  meet  them  on  their  own  ground. 

But  has  God  provided  one  so  qualified  ? Who  is  he  ? Thou  art 
the  man  ! God  has  given  you  a measure  of  loving  faith,  and  a single 
eye  to  His  glory.  He  has  given  you  some  knowledge  of  men  and  things, 
particularly  of  the  old  plan  of  Methodism.  You  are  blessed  with  some 
health,  activity,  and  diligence,  together  with  a degree  of  learning.  And 
to  these  He  has  lately  added,  by  a way  none  could  have  foreseen,  favour 
both  with  the  preachers  and  the  whole  people.  Come  out  in  the  name 


I 


2 


Wesky  s Designated  Successor. 


of  God ! Come  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty  ! Come 
while  I am  alive  and  capable  of  labour  ! 

^ Dum  su^perest  Lachesi  quod  torqueat^  et pedibus  me 
Porto  meis^  nullo  dextram  subeunte  bacillo' 

Come  while  I am  able,  God  assisting,  to  build  you  up  in  faith,  to  ripen 
your  gifts,  and  to  introduce  you  to  the  people.  Nil  tanti.  What 
possible  employment  can  you  have,  which  is  of  so  great  importance  ? 

‘^But  you  will  naturally  say,  ‘I  am  not  equal  to  the  task;  I have 
neither  grace  nor  gifts  for  such  an  employment.’  You  say  true  ; it  is 
certain  you  have  not.  And  who  has  ? But  do  you  not  know  Him  who 
is  able  to  give  them  ? perhaps  not  at  once,  but  rather  day  by  day : 
as  each  is,  so  shall  your  strength  be.  ^ But  this  implies,’  you  may  say, 

‘ a thousand  crosses,  such  as  I feel  I am  not  able  to  bear.’  You  are 
not  able  to  bear  them  now,  and  they  are  not  now  come.  Whenever 
they  do  come,  will  He  not  send  them  in  due  number,  weight,  and 
measure  ? And  will  they  not  all  be  for  your  profit,  that  you  may  be  a 
partaker  of  His  holiness  ? 

^‘Without  conferring,  therefore,  with  flesh  and  blood,  come  and 
strengthen  the  hands,  comfort  the  heart,  and  share  the  labour  of 
Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

''John  Wesley.”  ^ 

In  all  respects,  Wesley's  letter  is  remarkable.  He  wished 
Methodism  to  be  perpetuated  ; but  he  was  convinced  that 
this  could  not  be  done  unless  the  ruling  and  administrative 
power  could  be  confided,  not  to  the  Conference,  or  to  a 
committee  of  the  Conference,  but  to  a single  person.  His 
description  of  the  necessary  qualifications  of  such  a ruler 
is  worthy  of  being  studied.  Especially  ought  Methodist 
preachers  and  the  Methodist  people  all  over  the  world,  and 
in  all  generations,  to  notice  the  fact  that  Wesley's  first  and 
pre-eminent  qualification  was  that  he  who  presided  both 
over  the  preachers  and  people  must  be  a man  of  faith  and 
love,  and  one  who  had  a single  eye  to  the  advancement  of 
the  kingdom  of  God."  For  thirty-eight  years,  since  he  left 
the  Oxford  University,  Wesley's  labours  had  been  herculean 
and  incessant.  His  health  had  begun  to  fail  ; so  much  so, 
that,  only  a few  months  before  he  wrote  to  Fletcher,  his 
friends  in  London  had  become  alarmed  by  signs  of  age  and 
debility,  and  had  contributed  to  provide  him  a carriage  in 


Dr.  Whitehead’s  "Life  of  Wesley,”  vol.  ii,,  p.  355. 


Introduction, 


3 


which  to  pursue  those  extensive  and  laborious  journeys, 
which  hitherto  he  had  made  on  horseback.  In  Edinburgh, 
he  had  undergone  a medical  examination  by  Dr.  Monro, 
Dr.  Gregory,  and  Dr.  Hamilton,  after  which  he  wrote:  ‘H772, 
May  18.  They  satisfied  me  what  my  disorder  was  ; and 
told  me  there  was  but  one  method  of  cure.  Perhaps  but 
one  natural  one;  but  I think  God  has  more  than  one  method 
of  healing  either  the  soul  or  the  body.’' 

Under  such  circumstances,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Wesley 
wished  to  have  in  training  his  successor  ; and  he  seems  to 
have  had  no  difficulty  in  nominating  him.  His  brother 
Charles  was  living,  and,  among  his  itinerant  preachers,  there 
was  a small  band  of  remarkable  men,  including  Alexander 
Mather,  Thomas  Olivers,  George  Shadford,  John  Pawson, 
Thomas  Hanby,  William  Thompson,  Thomas  Taylor,  John 
Nelson,  Thomas  Rankin,  Christopher  Hopper,  Joseph  Benson, 
George  Story,  Thomas  Rutherford,  Richard  Whatcoat,  Joseph 
Pilmore,  Francis  Asbury,  and  others  ; but  all  these  were 
passed  over,  and  the  man  he  desired  and  nominated  to  be 
his  successor  was  the  saintly  Swiss,  John  William  de  la 
Flechere,  Vicar  of  Madeley. 

The  character  and  the  life  of  such  a man  must  be  worthy 
of  attention.  Wesley,  a keen  judge  of  men,  thought  him 
qualified  to  be  the  “ Trpoccrrco?”  of  the  Methodists.  His 
reply  to  Wesley’s  proposal  need  not  be  inserted  here.  The 
position  was  the  highest  Wesley  could  offer  him.  Was  he 
worthy  of  it } Let  the  reader  of  the  following  pages  form 
his  own  opinion.  Enough  has  been  said  to  justify  the  present 
attempt  to  delineate  the  man. 


4 


Wesley  s Designattd  Successor. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROM  FLETCHERIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  COMING 
TO  ENGLAND 

IN  1752. 

JEAN  GUILLAUME  DE  LA  FLECHERE  was  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  most  respectable  families  in 
Switzerland  ; a family,  in  fact,  which  was  a branch  of  an 
earldom  of  Savoy.  After  his  marriage,  Fletcher’s  wife  found 
in  his  desk  a seal.  ‘‘Is  this  yours  ” she  asked.  “Yes,” 
replied  the  poor  country  parson;  “ but  I have  not  used  it  for 
many  years.”  “ Why  } ” “ Because  it  bears  a coronet,  nearly 

such  as  is  the  insignia  of  your  English  dukes.  Were  I to 
use  that  seal,  it  might  lead  to  frivolous  inquiries  about  my 
family,  and  subject  me  to  the  censure  of  valuing  myself  on 
such  distinctions.”^ 

For  some  time  the  father  of  John  Fletcher  was  a general 
officer  in  the  French  army,  but,  on  his  marriage,  he  retired 
from  the  service.  Later  in  life,  he  accepted  a colonelcy  in 
the  militia  of  Switzerland. 

John,  his  father’s  youngest  son,  was  born  at  Nyon,  on 
September  12th,  1729.  His  birthplace  was  a fine  old 
mansion,  that  had  withstood  the  storms  of  centuries,  and,  like 
many  of  the  ancient  houses  in  Switzerland,  was  entered  by 
a spiral  stone  staircase,  which  opened  into  a spacious  hall. 
“The  house  where  I was  born,”  said  Fletcher,  “ has  one  of 
the  finest  prospects  in  the  world.  We  have  a shady  wood, 
near  the  lake,  where  I can  ride  in  the  cool  all  the  day,  and 
enjoy  the  singing  of  a multitude  of  birds.”  PYom  one  of  the 
windows  of  Fletcher’s  ancestral  home,  there  was  a magnificent 


^ Cox’s  ‘‘Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  140. 


Anecdotes  of  Early  Life, 


5 


view  of  hill  and  dale,  vineyards  and  pastures,  stretching  right 
away  to  the  distant  Jura  mountains.  At  a few  paces  from 
the  chateau,  there  was  a terrace  overlooking  Lake  Leman, 
with  its  clear  blue  waters  and  its  gracefully-curved  and  richly- 
wooded  bays.  On  the  right  hand,  at  a distance  of  fifteen 
miles,  was  Geneva,  the  cradle  of  the  Reformation  ; on  the 
left,  Lausanne  and  the  celebrated  castle  of  Chillon.  High 
up  in  the  heavens  were  Alpine  peaks,  embosoming  scenes  the 
most  beautiful  ; and,  not  far  away,  was  Mont  Blanc,  robed 
in  perpetual  and  unsullied  snow. 

Not  much  is  known  of  the  early  life  of  Fletcher.  A few 
anecdotes  concerning  him  have  been  preserved  by  his  bio- 
graphers, and  these  shall  be  given  in  as  brief  a form  as 
possible. 

Wesley  relates  that  Fletcher,  “ in  his  early  childhood,  had 
much  of  the  fear  of  God,  and  great  tenderness  of  conscience.'' 
One  day,  when  he  was  about  seven  years  of  age,  his  nurse, 
who  had  occasion  to  reprove  him,  said,  “You  are  a naughty 
boy.  Do  you  not  know  that  the  devil  is  to  take  away  all 
naughty  children  } " The  maid's  remark  troubled  him.  He 
fell  upon  his  knees  and  began  to  pray,  and  did  not  cease  till 
he  believed  God  had  forgiven  him. 

His  filial  obedience  was  exemplary,  but,  on  one  occasion, 
he,  undesignedly,  offended  his  mother,  whom  he  dearly  loved. 
The  good  lady  was  speaking  in  too  warm  a manner  to  one 
of  the  family.  Young  Fletcher  turned  a reproving  eye  upon 
her.  She  was  much  displeased  with  what  she  conceived  to 
be  unfilial  forwardness,  and  punished  him.  With  a look  of 
tender  affection,  he  meekly  replied,  “ When  I am  smitten 
on  one  cheek,  and  especially  by  a hand  I love  so  well,  I am 
taught  to  turn  the  other  also."  The  mother's  indignation 
was  instantly  turned  into  admiration  of  her  boy.^ 

While  yet  a youth,  he  had  several  near  escapes  from  an 
untimely  death.  Once,  when  walking  upon  a high  wall  en- 
closing his  father's  garden,  his  foot  slipped,  and  he  must  have 
been  killed  had  he  not  fallen  into  “ a large  quantity  of  fresh- 
made  mortar." 

At  another  time,  when  swimming  by  himself  in  deep 


Gilpin’s  Account  of  Fletcher.” 


6 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


water,  a strong  ribbon,  which  bound  his  hair,  became  loose, 
twisted  about  his  leg,  and  tied  him  “ as  it  were  neck  and 
heels/’  I strove,”  said  he,  with  all  my  strength  to  dis- 
engage myself,  but  to  no  purpose.  No  person  being  within 
call,  I gave  myself  up  for  lost ; but  when  I had  ceased 
struggling,  the  ribbon  loosed  itself.” 

On  another  occasion,  he  and  four  other  young  gentlemen 
agreed  to  swim  to  a rocky  island,  five  miles  from  the  shore. 
Young  Fletcher  and  one  of  his  adventurous  friends  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  island,  but  the  cliff  was  so  steep  and  smooth 
that  they  found  it  impossible  to  scale  its  heights.  After 
swimming  round  the  islet  again  and  again,  they  concluded 
that  their  being  drowned  was  inevitable.  Immediately  after, 
however,  they  discovered  a place  of  safety  ; and,  in  due  time, 
a boat  arrived  and  took  them  home.  The  other  three,  when 
only  half  way  to  the  island,  were  rescued  by  a boat  just  as 
they  were  sinking. 

A still  more  remarkable  deliverance  from  a watery  grave 
was  the  following  : Fletcher  was  a practised  swimmer,  and 
once  plunged  into  a river  broader  than  the  Thames  at  London 
Bridge,  and  very  rapid.  “ The  water  was  extremely  rough, 
and  poured  along  like  a galloping  horse.”  He  endeavoured 
to  swim  against  it,  but  in  vain,  and  was  hurried  far  from 
home.  When  almost  exhausted,  he  looked  for  a resting- 
place,  feeling  he  must  either  escape  from  the  water  or  sink. 
With  great  difficulty,  he  approached  the  shore,  but  found  it 
“ so  ragged  and  sharp  that  he  saw,  if  he  attempted  to  land 
there,  he  would  be  torn  to  pieces.”  In  his  direful  plight,  he 
recommenced  swimming.  “ At  last,”  says  he,  “ despairing  of 
life,  I was  cheered  by  the  sight  of  a fine  smooth  creek,  into 
which  I was  swiftly  carried  by  a violent  stream.  A building 
stood  directly  across  it,  which  I then  did  not  know  to  be  a 
powder-mill.  The  last  thing  I can  remember  was  the  striking 
of  my  breast  against  one  of  the  piles  whereon  it  stood.  I 
then  lost  my  senses,  and  knew  nothing  more  till  I rose  on 
the  other  side  of  the  mill.  When  I came  to  myself,  I was 
in  a calm,  safe  place,  perfectly  well,  without  any  soreness  or 
weariness  at  all.  Nothing  was  amiss  but  the  distance  of  my 
clothes,  the  stream  having  driven  me  five  miles  from  the 
place  where  I left  them.  Many  persons  gladly  welcomed 


Anecdotes  of  Early  Life. 


1 


me  on  shore ; one  gentleman  in  particular,  who  said,  ‘ I 
looked  at  my  watch  when  you  went  under  the  mill,  and 
again  when  you  rose  on  the  other  side,  and  the  time  of 
your  being  immerged  among  the  piles  was  exactly  twenty 
minutes/  ” 

Fletcher  passed  the  early  part  of  his  life  at  Nyon,  where 
he  began  his  education.  With  his  two  brothers,  he  was  then 
removed  to  the  university  of  Geneva,  where  he  was  dis- 
tinguished equally  by  his  superior  abilities  and  his  uncommon 
diligence.  The  two  first  prizes  for  which  he  stood  a candidate 
he  carried  away  from  a number  of  competitors,  several  of 
whom  were  nearly  related  to  the  professors.  He  allowed 
himself  but  little  time  either  for  recreation,  refreshment,  or 
sleep.  After  confining  himself  closely  to  his  studies  all  day, 
he  would  frequently  consume  the  greater  part  of  the  night 
in  making  notes  of  what  he  had  found  in  the  course  of  his 
reading  worthy  of  observation. 

After  quitting  Geneva,  he  was  sent  by  his  father  to  Lentz- 
burg,  in  the  canton  of  Berne,  where,  besides  pursuing  his 
other  studies,  he  acquired  the  German  language.  On  his 
return  to  Nyon,  he  studied  Hebrew,  and  improved  his  know- 
ledge of  mathematics. 

From  early  childhood,  Fletcher  loved  and  served  his  Maker. 
He  himself  relates:  “I  think  it  was  when  I was  seven  years 
of  age,  that  I first  began  to  feel  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad 
in  my  heart,  and  that  I resolved  to  give  myself  up  to  Him, 
and  to  the  service  of  His  Church,  if  ever  I should  be  fit  for 
it ; but  the  corruption  which  is  in  the  world,  and  that  which 
was  in  my  own  heart,  soon  weakened,  if  not  erased,  those 
first  characters  which  grace  had  written  upon  it.” 

“ From  a child  thou  hast  known  the  holy  Scriptures,” 
wrote  St.  Paul  to  Timothy.  The  same  might  have  been 
said  to  Fletcher.  His  early  acquaintance  with  inspired  truth 
guarded  him,  on  the  one  hand,  from  the  snares  of  infidelity, 
and  preserved  him,  on  the  other,  from  many  of  the  vices 
peculiar  to  youth.  It  also  qualified  and  emboldened  him  to 
reprove  sin,  and,  with  becoming  modesty,  to  remonstrate  with 
sinners.  To  illustrate  this,  his  biographers  relate  an  incident 
which  occurred  when  he  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age.  A 
lady  and  her  three  sons  visited  his  sister,  Madame  de  Botens. 


8. 


Wesley  s Desigriaied  Successor. 


The  sons  quarrelled,  and  the  mother  uttered  a hasty  impre- 
cation. Young  Fletcher  was  shocked,  and,  instantly  starting 
from  his  chair,  began  to  expound  and  enforce  the  apostolic 
admonition,  ‘‘  Provoke  not  your  children  to  wrath,'’  etc.  ; and 
then  reminded  his  astonished  auditress  that  her  imprecation 
might  be  realized  ; a vaticination  that  soon  became  a fact  ; 
for,  on  the  same  day,  the  lady  embarked  upon  the  lake,  was 
overtaken  with  a tremendous  storm,  and  was  brought  to  the 
point  of  perishing;  and,  soon  after,  two  of  her  sons  were 
drowned  ; and  the  third  was  crushed  to  death  at  one  of  the 
gates  of  Geneva. 

Fletcher  had  wished  to  be  a Christian  minister,  and  his 
parents  had  wished  the  same  concerning  him  ; but,  soon 
after  the  occurrence  just  related,  his  plans  of  life  were  entirely 
altered.  He  writes  : I went  through  my  studies  with  a 

design  of  entering  into  orders  ; but,  afterwards,  upon  serious 
reflection,  feeling  I was  unequal  to  so  great  a burden,  and 
disgusted  by  the  necessity  I should  be  under  to  subscribe 
the  doctrine  of  predestination,  I yielded  to  the  desire  of  my 
friends,  who  would  have  me  go  into  the  army."^ 

The  friends  here  mentioned  did  not  include  his  parents, 
for  they. were  strongly  opposed  to  his  turning  soldier;  but 
now,  nearly  at  the  age  of  twenty,  his  theological  reading 
gave  place  to  the  studying  of  the  works  of  Cohorn  and 
Vauban,  the  great  military  engineers.  At  this  time,  Portugal 
was  sending  troops  to  Brazil,  to  defend  its  interests  there. 
Against  the  remonstrances  of  his  parents,  Fletcher  went  to 
Lisbon,  there  gathered  a company  of  his  own  countrymen, 
accepted  a captain’s  commission,  and  engaged  to  serve  the 
Portuguese  on  board  a man-of-war,  which  was  preparing  with 
all  speed  to  sail  to  the  Brazilian  coasts.  Meanwhile,  he 
wrote  to  his  parents  for  a considerable  sum  of  money,  by 
means  of  which  he  expected  to  make  a small  fortune  in  the 
country  he  was  about  to  visit.  “They  refused  him  roughly: 
unmoved  by  this,  he  determined  to  go  without  the  cash." 
Whilst  w'aiting,  however,  for  the  ship  to  sail,  the  maid,  attend- 
ing him  at  breakfast,  let  the  tea-kettle  fall  upon  his  leg,  and 
so  scalded  him,  that  he  had  to  keep  his  bed.  “ During  that 


^ Arminian  Magazine,  1794,  p.  219. 


A)iecdotes  of  Early  Life, 


9 


time/’  says  Wesley,  ‘‘  the  ship  sailed  for  Brazil ; but  it  was 
observed  that  the  ship  was  heard  of  no  more.” 

Wesley  continues  : “ How  is  this  reconcileable  with  the 
account  which  has  been  given  of  his  piety  when  he  was  a 
child  ? Very  easily  : it  only  shows  that  his  piety  declined 
while  he  was  at  the  university.  And  this  is  too  often  the 
case  of  other  youths  in  our  own  universities.” 

Fletcher  returned  to  Nyon,  but  his  military  ardour  was 
not  abated  ; and,  being  informed  that  his  uncle,  then  a 
colonel  in  the  Dutch  service,  had  procured  a commission 
for  him,  he  joyfully  set  out  for  Flanders.  Here,  however,  he 
was  again  defeated  in  his  purpose  to  become  a soldier.  Peace 
was  concluded  ; his  uncle  died  ; his  hopes  were  blasted  ; 
and  the  military  profession  was  abandoned. 

This,  in  substance,  is  all  that  is  known  of  Fletcher,  until 
he  came  to  England,  as  Wesley  says,  in  1752. 


lO 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1752. 


CHAPTER  II. 

FROM  HIS  COMING  TO  ENGLAND  TO  HIS 
ORDINA  TION. 

1752  TO  1757. 


FTER  the  frustration  of  his  hopes  in  Flanders,  Fletcher, 


accompanied  by  other  young  gentlemen,  embarked 
for  England,  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  the  English 
language.  At  the  Custom  House  in  London  they  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  surliness.  Of  course  their  port- 
manteaus were  examined, — never  a pleasant  operation,  but 
sometimes  less  politely  done  than  at  others.  In  addition  to 
this,  their  letters  of  recommendation  were  taken  from  them, 
on  the  alleged  ground  that  all  letters  must  be  sent  by 
post.’'  They  went  to  an  inn,  where  they  encountered  an- 
other difficulty.  Unable  to  speak  English,  they  were  at  a 
loss  how  to  exchange  their  foreign  into  English  money. 
Fletcher,  going  to  the  door,  heard  a well-dressed  Jew  talking 
French.  The  difficulty  was  explained;  and  the  Jew  replied, 
‘‘  Give  me  your  money,  and  I will  get  it  changed."  Fletcher, 
without  the  least  suspicion,  handed  the  gentleman  his  purse, 
containing  £go.  Telling  his  friends  what  he  had  done,  they 
exclaimed,  “Your  money's  gone."  His  friends  were  wrong. 
Before  breakfast  was  ended  the  honest  Jew  returned,  and 
gave  to  Fletcher  the  full  amount  in  English  coin. 

To  assist  him  in  the  acquisition  of  the  English  language, 
Fletcher  had  been  recommended  to  a Mr.  Burchell,  who  kept 
a boarding-school  at  South  Mimms,  a village  about  four 
miles  from  Hatfield,  in  Hertfordshire.  He  was  admitted 
into  this  establishment.  Soon  after,  it  was  removed  to 
Hatfield,  whither  he  also  went.  Here  he  remained  with 
Mr.  Burchell  about  eighteen  months,  and  pursued  his  studies 
with  great  diligence.  He  frequently  visited  some  of  the 


Age  23.] 


Fletcher'^  s Conversion. 


1 1 


first  families  in  Hatfield  ; and,  by  his  easy  and  genteel 
behaviour,  and  his  sweetness  of  temper,  he  gained  the  affec- 
tionate esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

On  leaving  Mr.  Burchelhs  academy,  Fletcher  was  recom- 
mended by  Mr.  Dechamps,  a French  minister,  to  Thomas 
Hill,  Esq.,  of  Tern  Hall,  in  Shropshire,  as  tutor  to  his  two 
sons.^  It  was  whilst  in  the  service  of  this  gentleman  that 
Fletcher  was  converted.  The  following  is  an  extract  from 
one  of  his  letters  to  his  brother  Henry,  at  Nyon  : — 

^^The  news  of  your  promotion  has  given  me  great  pleasure.  I feel 
a sincere  satisfaction  in  the  diligence  with  which  you  devote  yourself  to 
the  good  of  society,  and  that  you  prefer  a life  of  labour  to  one  of  indolent 
and  useless  inactivity.  We  may  be  instruments  of  some  good  in  any 
condition  of  human  life,  if  we  faithfully  fulfil  its  duties ; and  the  more 
difficult  our  station  may  prove  to  be,  the  more  of  satisfaction  is  likely 
to  result  from  acquitting  ourselves  well  in  it.  The  ambition  which 
springs  from  this  principle  has  nothing  censurable  in  it,  provided  that 
a view  to  the  glory  of  God  be  its  motive.  I delight  to  think  that  the 
advancement  of  the  Divine  glory  is  your  principal  end ; in  which  case, 
as  your  influence  extends  over  the  whole  city,  the  good  you  do  may  be 
very  great.  You  will  find  a thousand  opportunities  of  glorifying  God 
by  your  diligence,  integrity,  and  disinterestedness.  Endeavour  to  find 
or  make  occasions  of  this  sort ; seize  on  them  eagerly,  and  shrink  not 
from  entering  into  the  minutest  details,  when  the  object  is  to  do  good 
to  the  bodies  or  souls  of  your  neighbours.  Imitate,  as  far  as  circum- 
stances will  admit,  the  charity  of  Christ ; who  went  about  doing  good, 
and  disdained  not  to  converse  with  the  most  wretched.  I dwell  on  this 
the  more  particularly,  because  the  vanity  and  pride  which  reign  in  our 
native  town  appear  to  me  directly  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  charity.  If 
you  rise  above  these,  you  will  conduct  yourself  as  a Christian,  whose 
sole  object  is  to  advance  the  glory  of  God ; and  who  thinks  little  of  the 
esteem  of  man,  except  as  it  may  place  him  in  a position  to  do  more 
good  in  the  world. 

‘‘Your  recreations,  of  which  you  have  given  me  a brief  sketch,  are 
doubtless  innocent,  especially  if  they  occupy  no  more  of  your  time  than 
a due  attention  to  health,  and  the  wants  of  our  nature  demand.  Although 
you  have  often  reproached  me  with  being  too  austere,  I am  far  from 
thinking  that  religion  forbids  the  use  of  innocent  recreations  ; because, 
being  indifferent  in  themselves,  they  become  useful  when  they  are  neces- 
sary for  the  relaxation  of  the  body  or  the  mind.  I am  not  at  all  shocked 


^ The  elder  of  these  sons  died  on  coming  of  age  ; the  younger  became 
M.P.  for  Shrewsbury,  and  afterwards  for  Shropshire.  In  1784,  he  took 
his  seat  in  the  House  of  Lords,  as  Baron  Berwick.  The  title  still  exists. 
The  old  Tern  Hall  has  long  been  called  Attingham  House. — Debrett’s 
“Peerage’’  and  Wesley’s  and  Benson’s  “ Lives”  of  Fletcher. 


12 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor, 


[1754 


at  the  tradition  which  informs  us  that  St.  John  sometimes  amused  him- 
self with  a partridge  which  he  had  tamed.  Happy  are  they  who,  as  far 
as  they  are  able,  endeavour  to  turn  their  own  recreations  to  the  advan- 
tage of  others,  which  may  certainly,  if  not  always,  yet  sometimes,  be 
done.  I sometimes  polish  shells  with  Mr.  Hill,  out  of  compliance  with 
his  wishes.  This  used  formerly  to  put  me  in  a bad  humour,  on  account 
of  the  loss  of  time  it  occasioned.  But  I begin  to  find  that  pious  thoughts 
may  sanctify  an  occupation  as  insignificant  as  even  this,  and  that  a 
renouncing  of  one^s  own  will  from  compliance  with  that  of  others  is  not 
without  its  utility. 

am  now  going  to  reply  to  that  part  of  your  letter  in  which  you 
testify  your  surprise  at  the  change  which  has  taken  place  in  my  manner 
of  thinking,  a change  which  appears  to  have  struck  you  in  the  last 
letters  which  I wrote  to  my  father.  You  cry  out  against  the  severity  of 
the  principles  which  I have  laid  down ; and  add  that,  without  being  a 
prophet,  you  boldly  predict  my  giving  way  before  long  to  enthusiasm 
and  all  manner  of  bodily  austerities,  led  on  by  the  principles  I have 
assumed. 

am  the  less  astonished,  my  dear  brother,  that  you  should  thus 
speak,  because  it  is  the  language  of  ninety-nine  Christians  of  the  present 
day  out  of  every  hundred,  and  because  I myself  for  a long  time  thought 
like  you  on  this  point.  In  a certain  sense,  indeed,  I always  thought 
highly  of  religion,  though  at  the  bottom  no  one  perhaps  had  less  of 
it  than  I.  My  infancy  was  vicious,  and  my  youth  still  more  so.  At 
eighteen  I fell  into  what  may  properly  be  termed  ‘ enthusiasm ; ^ for 
though  I lived  in  many  habitual  sins,  yet  because  I was  regularly  pre- 
sent at  public  worship,  not  only  on  the  Sunday,  but  during  the  week,  I 
imagined  myself  religious.  I made  long  prayers  morning  and  evening, 
as  well  as  frequently  during  the  day.  I devoted  to  the  study  of  the 
prophecies,  and  to  books  of  a religious  character,  all  the  time  I could 
spare  from  my  other  studies. 

My  feelings  were  easily  excited,  but  my  heart  was  rarely  affected, 
and  I was  destitute  of  a sincere  love  to  God,  and  consequently  to  my 
neighbour.  All  my  hopes  of  salvation  rested  on  my  prayers,  devotions, 
and  a certain  habit  of  saying,  ' Lord,  I am  a great  sinner ; pardon  me 
for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ.’  In  the  meantime  I was  ignorant  of  the 
fall  and  ruin  in  which  every  man  is  involved,  the  necessity  of  a Redeemer, 
and  the  way  by  which  we  may  be  rescued  from  the  fall  by  receiving 
Christ  with  a living  faith.  I should  have  been  quite  confounded  if  any 
one  had  asked  me  the  following  questions  : ' Do  you  know  that  you  are 
dead  in  Adam  ? Do  you  live  to  yourself  ? Do  you  live  in  Christ  and 
for  Christ  ? Does  God  rule  in  your  heart  ? Do  you  experience  that 
peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding?  Is  the  love  of  God 
shed  abroad  in  your  heart  by  the  Holy  Spirit?’  I repeat  it,  my  dear 
brother,  these  questions  would  have  astonished  and  confounded  me,  as 
they  must  every  one  who  relies  on  the  form  of  religion,  and  neglects  its 
power  and  influence. 

“ My  religion,  alas  ! having  a different  foundation  from  that  which  is 


Age  25.] 


Fletcher’ s Conversion. 


13 


in  Christ,  was  built  merely  on  the  sand;  and  no  sooner  did  the  winds  and 
floods  arise,  than  it  tottered  and  fell  to  ruins.  I formed  an  acquaintance 
with  some  Deists,  at  first  with  the  design  of  converting  them,  and  after- 
wards with  the  pretence  of  thoroughly  examining  their  sentiments.  But 
my  heart,  like  that  of  Balaam,  was  not  right  with  God.  He  abandoned 
me,  and  I enrolled  myself  in  their  party.  A considerable  change  took 
place  in  my  deportment.  Before  I had  a form  of  religion,  and  now  I 
lost  it ; but  as  to  the  state  of  my  heart,  it  was  precisely  the  same.  I did 
not  remain  many  weeks  in  this  state ; the  Good  Shepherd  sought  after 
me,  a wandering  sheep.  Again  I became  professedly  a Christian;  that 
is,  I resumed  a regular  attendance  at  church  and  the  communion,  and 
offered  up  frequent  prayers  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  There  were 
also  in  my  heart  some  sparks  of  true  love  to  God,  and  some  germs  of 
genuine  faith ; but  a connection  with  worldly  characters,  and  an  undue 
anxiety  to  promote  my  secular  interests,  prevented  the  growth  of  the*se 
Christian  graces.  Had  I now  been  asked  on  what  I founded  my  hopes 
of  salvation,  I should  have  replied,  that  I was  not  without  some  religion ; 
that,  so  far  from  doing  harm  to  any  one,  I wished  well  to  all  the  world ; 
that  I resisted  my  passions;  that  I abstained  from  pleasures  in  which  I 
had  once  indulged;  and  that  if  I was  not  so  religious  as  some  others, 
it  was  because  such  a degree  of  religion  was  unnecessary ; that  heaven 
might  be  obtained  on  easier  terms ; and  that  if  I perished,  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  generality  of  Christians  was  inevitable,  which  I could  not 
believe  was  consistent  with  the  mercy  of  God. 

I was  in  this  state  of  mind  when  a dream,  which  I could  not  but 
consider  as  a warning  from  God,  aroused  me  from  my  security.” 

At  great  length  Fletcher  here  relates  his  dream  respecting 
the  final  judgment,  and  then  continues  : — 

“ For  some  days,  I was  so  dejected  and  harassed  in  mind  as  to  be 
unable  to  apply  myself  to  anything.  While  in  this  state,  I attempted  to 
copy  some  music,  when  a servant  entered  my  chamber.  Having  noticed 
my  employment,  he  said,  ‘ I am  surprised.  Sir,  that  you,  who  know  so 
many  things,  should  forget  what  day  this  is,  and  that  you  should  not 
be  aware  that  the  Lord’s  day  should  be  sanctified  in  a very  different 
manner.’ 

''The  sterling  character  of  the  man,  his  deep  humility,  his  zeal  for 
the  glory  of  God,  his  love  to  his  neighbours,  and  especially  his  patience, 
which  enabled  him  to  receive  with  joy  the  insults  he  met  with  from  the 
whole  family  for  Christ’s  sake,  and,  above  all,  the  secret  energy  which 
accompanied  his  words,  deeply  affected  me,  and  convinced  me  more 
than  ever  of  my  real  state.  I was  convinced,  as  it  had  been  told  me  in 
my  dream,  that  I was  not  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  that  I was 
not  conformed  to  the  image  of  God,  and  that  without  this  the  death  of 
Christ  would  be  of  no  avail  for  my  salvation.”  ^ 


^ The  long  letter  from  which  the  foregoing  is  extracted  was  first 
published  in  1826,  in  a ''  Life  of  Fletcher  ” in  the  French  language,  and 


14 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1754- 


About  this  period  of  his  history,  Fletcher  seems  to  have 
become  acquainted  with  the  Methodists.  Wesley  says: — 

I have  heard  two  very  diiferent  accounts  of  the  manner  wherein  he 
had  the  first  notice  of  the  people  called  Methodists  ; but  I think  it  reason- 
able to  prefer  to  any  other  that  which  I received  from  his  own  mouth. 
This  was  as  follows : — 

‘‘When  Mr.  Hill  went  up  to  London  to  attend  the  Parliament,  he 
took  his  family  and  Mr.  Fletcher  with  him.  While  they  stopped  at  St. 
Albans,  he  walked  out  into  the  town,  and  did  not  return  till  they  were 
set  out  for  London.  A horse  being  left  for  him,  he  rode  after,  and  over- 
took them  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Hill  asking  him  why  he  stayed  behind, 
he  said,  ‘As  I was  walking,  I met  with  a poor  old  woman,  who  talked 
so  sweetly  of  Jesus  Christ  that  I knew  not  how  the  time  passed  away.’ 

‘ I shall  wonder,’  said  Mrs.  Hill,  ‘ if  our  tutor  does  not  turn  Methodist 
by-and-by.’  ‘Methodist,  Madame!’  said  he,  ‘pray,  what  is  that?’ 
She  replied,  ‘Why,  the  Methodists  are  a people  that  do  nothing  but 
pray;  they  are  praying  all  day  and  all  night.’  ‘Are  they?’  said  he; 

‘ then,  by  the  help  of  God,  I will  find  them  out.’  He  did  find  them  out 
not  long  after,  and  was  admitted  into  the  society;  and  from  this  time, 
whenever  he  was  in  town,  he  met  in  Mr.  Richard  Edwards’s  class.  This 
he  found  so  profitable  to  his  soul  that  he  lost  no  opportunity  of  meeting; 
and  he  retained  a peculiar  regard  for  Mr.  Edwards  till  the  day  of  his 
death.”  ^ 

It  was  not,  however,  in  Mr.  Edwards’s  class  that  Fletcher 
found  peace  with  God.  A few  months  after  his  decease, 
a 1 2 mo.  pamphlet  of  sixty-four  pages  was  published  by  his 
widow,  entitled  “A  Letter  to  Mons.  H.  L.  de  la  Flechere, 
Assessor  Ballival  of  Nyon,  in  the  Canton  of  Berne,  Switzer- 
land, on  the  Death  of  his  Brother,  the  Reverend  John  William 
de  la  Flechere,  Twenty-five  Years  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Shrop- 
shire.” In  that  letter  it  is  stated,  that,  from  the  time  he 
heard  the  Methodists,  he  became  more  and  more  conscious 
that  some  inward  change  was  necessary  to  make  him  happy. 
He  now  began  to  ‘ strive  with  the  utmost  diligence  according 
to  his  light,  hoping  by  much  doing  to  render  himself  accept- 
able to  God.’  But,  one  day,  hearing  a sermon  preached  by  a 
clergyman,  whose  name  was  Green,  he  was  convinced  he  did 


printed  at  Lausanne.  In  the  same  year,  Mr.  Benson  printed  it  as  an 
appendix  to  the  ninth  edition  of  his  “ Life  of  Fletcher.”  In  1839,  k was 
inserted  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine.  The  extract  is  partly 
taken  from  Benson’s  translation  and  partly  from  that  in  the  magazine. 

^ Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  17. 


Age  25.]  Narrative  of  Fletcher^ s Conversion. 


15 


not  understand  the  nature  of  saving  faith,  ‘ Is  it  possible/ 
said  he,  ‘that  I who  have  always  been  accounted  so  religious, 
who  have  made  divinity  my  study,  and  received  the  premium 
of  piety  (so  called)  from  the  university  for  my  writings  on 
divine  subjects, — is  it  possible  that  I am  yet  so  ignorant  as 
not  to  know  what  faith  is  ? ^ But  the  more  he  examined,  the 
more  he  was  convinced  of  the  momentous  truth.  He  now 
became  sensible  of  inbred  sin,  and  sought,  by  the  most 
rigorous  austerities,  to  conquer  an  evil  nature ; but  the  more 
he  strove,  the  more  he  saw  and  felt  that  all  his  soul  was  sin.'' 

Mrs.  Fletcher  continues  the  narrative  of  his  conversion  by 
giving  the  following  extract  from  his  diary : — 

1755*  January  12. — I received  the  sacrament,  though  my  heart 
was  as  hard  as  a flint.  The  following  day,  I felt  the  tyranny  of  sin  more 
than  ever,  and  an  uncommon  coldness  in  my  religious  duties.  I felt  the 
burden  of  my  corruptions  heavier  than  ever.  The  more  I prayed  for 
conquest  over  sin,  the  more  I was  conquered.  The  thoughts  which  en- 
grossed my  mind  were  generally  these:  I am  undone.  I have  wandered 
from  God.  I have  trampled  under  foot  the  frequent  convictions  God  has 
been  pleased  to  work  upon  my  heart.  Instead  of  going  straight  to 
Christ,  I have  lost  my  time  in  flghting  against  sin  with  the  dim  light  of 
reason,  and  the  use  of  the  means  of  grace.  I fear  my  notions  of  Christ 
are  only  speculative,  and  do  not  reach  the  heart.  I never  had  faith, 
and  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  God.  Then  every  thought, 
word,  and  work  of  mine  have  only  been  sin  and  wickedness  before  God, 
though  ever  so  specious  before  men.  All  my  righteousness  is  as  filthy 
rags.  I am  a very  devil,  though  of  an  inferior  sort,  and  if  I am  not 
renewed  before  I go  hence,  hell  will  be  my  portion  to  all  eternity. 

When  I saw  that  all  my  endeavours  availed  nothing  towards  my 
conquering  sin,  I almost  resolved  to  sin  on,  and  to  go  at  last  to  hell. 
But,  I remember,  there  was  a sort  of  sweetness  even  in  the  midst  of  this 
abominable  thought.  If  I go  to  hell,  said  I,  I will  still  love  God  there; 
and  since  I cannot  be  an  instance  of  His  mercy  in  heaven,  I will  be  an 
instance  of  His  justice  among  the  devils  ; and  if  I put  forth  His  glory 
one  way  or  the  other,  I am  content. 

^‘But  I soon  recovered  the  ground  I had  lost.  Christ  died  for  <2//, 
thought  I ; then  He  died  for  me ; and,  as  I sincerely  desire  to  be  His, 
He  will  surely  take  me  to  Himself.  He  will  surely  let  me  know  before 
I die  that  He  died  for  me.  But  then,  I thought,  this  may  only  be  in 
my  dying  hour,  and  that  is  a long  time  to  wait.  But  I answered  thus  : 
My  Saviour  was  above  thirty-three  years  working  out  my  salvation  ; let 
me  wait  for  Him  as  long,  and  then  I may  talk  of  impatience.  Does 
God  owe  me  anything  ? Is  He  bound  to  time  and  place  ? Do  I deserve 
anything  at  His  hands  but  damnation  ? 

So  I went  on,  sinning  and  repenting,  and  sinning  again;  but  still 


i6 


JVes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1755- 


calling  on  God’s  mercy  through  Christ.  I was  now  beat  out  of  all  my 
strongholds  of  pride.  I felt  my  helplessness,  and  lay  at  the  foot  of  the 
throne  of  grace.  I cried,  though  coldly,  yet  I believe  sincerely,  ‘ Lord, 
save  me  ! Give  me  justifying  faith  in  Thy  blood  ! Cleanse  me  from  my 
sins  ! ’ I seldom  went  to  private  prayer,  but  I thought,  ‘ Perhaps  this 
is  the  happy  hour  when  I shall  prevail  with  God ; ’ but  still  I was  dis- 
appointed. 

^^On  Sunday,  January  19,  1755,  I heard  an  excellent  sermon  on, 
‘ Being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.’  I heard  it  attentively,  but  my  heart  was  not  moved.  I 
was  only  more  convinced  that  I was  an  unbeliever — that  I was  not 
justified  by  faith — and  that  I should  never  till  then  have  peace  with  God. 
The  hymn  after  the  sermon  suited  the  subject  that  had  been  treated  of, 
but  I could  not  join  in  singing  it.  I sat  mourning,  whilst  others  rejoiced 
in  the  Lord  their  Saviour. 

The  following  day,  I begged  of  God  to  show  me  all  the  wickedness 
of  my  heart,  and  to  fit  me  for  His  mercy.  I besought  Him  to  increase 
my  convictions,  for  I was  afraid  I did  not  mourn  enough  for  my  sins. 
But  I found  relief  in  Mr.  Wesley’s  Journal,  where  I learned  that  we 
should  not  build  on  what  we  feel ; but  that  we  should  go  to  Christ  with 
all  our  sins  and  all  our  hardness  of  heart. 

On  January  21,  I began  to  write  a confession  of  my  sins,  misery, 
and  helplessness,  together  with  a resolution  to  seek  Christ  even  unto 
death  ; but,  my  business  calling  me  away,  I had  no  heart  to  go  on  with 
it.  In  the  evening,  I read  the  Scriptures,  and  found  a sort  of  pleasure 
in  seeing  a picture  of  my  wickedness  so  exactly  drawn  in  the  third 
chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  and  that  of  my  condition  in  the 
seventh ; and  now  I felt  some  hope  that  God  would  finish  in  me  the 
work  He  had  begun. 

“On  Thursday,  January  23,  my  fast-day,  Satan  beset  me  hard.  I 
sinned  grievously,  and  almost  gave  up  all  hope  ; I mourned  deeply,  but 
with  a heart  as  hard  as  ever.  I was  on  the  brink  of  despair,  and  yet 

continued  to  fall  into  sin.  In  the  evening,  I went  to  my  friend,  Mr.  B , 

and  told  him  something  of  my  state.  He  strove  to  administer  comfort, 
but  it  did  not  suit  my  light.  When  we  parted,  he  gave  me  some  advice 
which  suited  me  better.  ‘ God,’  said  he,  Moves  you,  and  if  He  denies 
you  anything,  it  is  for  your  good.  You  deserve  nothing  at  His  hands  ; 
wait  then  patiently  for  Him,  and  never  give  up-  your  hope.’  I went 
home  resolved  to  follow  this  advice,  though  I should  stay  till  death. 

“ I had  proposed  to  meet  the  Lord  the  following  Sunday  at  His  table, 
and  therefore  looked  out  a sacramental  hymn.  I learned  it  by  heart, 
and  prayed  it  over  many  times,  and  then  went  to  bed,  commending 
myself  to  God  with  rather  more  hope  and  peace  than  I had  felt  for  some 
time.  But  Satan  waked  while  I slept.  I thought  I committed  that 
night  in  my  sleep  grievous  and  abominable  sins.  I awoke  amazed  and 
confounded,  and  rising  with  a detestation  of  the  corruption  of  my  senses 
and  imagination,  I fell  upon  my  knees,  and  prayed  with  more  faith  and 
less  wanderings  than  usual,  and  afterwards  set  about  my  business  with 


Age  25.]  Further  Account  of  Fletcher' s Conversion. 


17 


an  uncommon  cheerfulness.  It  was  not  long  before  I was  tempted  to 
fall  into  my  besetting  sin,  but  I found  myself  a new  creature.  My  soul 
was  not  even  ruffled.  Having  withstood  two  or  three  temptations,  and 
feeling  peace  in  my  soul  through  the  whole  of  them,  I began  to  think  it 
was  the  Lord’s  doing.  Afterwards  it  was  suggested  to  me  that  it  was 
great  presumption  for  such  a sinner  to  hope  for  such  a mercy.  I prayed 
I might  not  be  permitted  to  fall  into  a delusion ; but  the  more  I prayed, 
the  more  I saw  it  was  real ; for  though  sin  stirred  all  the  day  long,  I 
always  overcame  it  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

In  the  evening  I read  some  of  the  experiences  of  God’s  children, 
and  found  my  case  agreed  with  theirs,  and  suited  the  sermon  I had 
heard  on  Justifying  Faith.  I called  on  the  Lord  for  perseverance  and 
an  increase  of  faith,  for  still  I felt  some  fear  lest  this  should  be  all  delu- 
sion. Having  continued  my  supplication  till  near  one  in  the  morning, 
I then  opened  my  Bible,  and  fell  on  these  words,  ‘ Cast  thy  burden  on 
the  Lord,  and  He  shall  sustain  thee.  He  will  not  suffer  the  righteous 
to  be  moved.’  Filled  with  joy,  I fell  again  on  my  knees  to  beg  of  God 
that  I might  always  cast  my  burden  upon  Him.  I took  up  my  Bible 
again,  and  fell  on  these  words,  *1  will  be  with  thee  ; I will  not  fail  thee, 
neither  forsake  thee;  fear  not,  neither  be  dismayed.’  My  hope  was 
now  greatly  increased,  and  I thought  I saw  myself  conqueror  over  sin, 
hell,  and  all  manner  of  affliction. 

With  this  beautiful  promise  I shut  my  Bible,  and  as  I shut  it  I cast 
my  eye  on  the  words,  ‘ Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  I will  do 
it.’  So  having  asked  perseverance  and  grace  to  serve  God  till  death, 
I went  cheerfully  to  take  my  rest.” 

Such  is  Fletcher’s  own  account  of  his  conversion.  His 
widow  added  the  following  : — 

‘‘  I subjoin  what  I have  heard  him  speak  concerning  this  time.  He 
still  pleaded  with  the  Lord  to  take  a fuller  possession  of  his  heart,  and 
to  give  a fuller  manifestation  of  His  love,  till  one  day,  when  in  earnest 
prayer,  and  lying  prostrate  on  his  face,  he  saw,  with  the  eye  of  faith, 
our  Saviour  on  the  cross,  and  at  the  same  time  these  words  were  spoken 
with  power  to  his  heart : — 

^ Seiz’d  by  the  rage  of  sinful  men, 

I see  Christ  bound  and  bruis’d  and  slain  ; 

’Tis  done,  the  Martyr  dies  ! 

His  life  to  ransom  ours  is  given. 

And  lo  ! the  fiercest  fire  of  heaven 
Consumes  the  sacrifice. 

^ He  suffers  both  from  men  and  God ; 

He  bears  the  universal  load 
Of  guilt  and  misery  ! 

He  suffers  to  reverse  our  doom^ 

And  lo  I my  Lord  is  here  become 
The  bread  of  life  to  me.  ’ 


2 


i8 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[I7SS- 


‘'Now  all  his  bonds  were  broken.  His  freed  soul  began  to  breathe 
a purer  air.  Sin  was  beneath  his  feet.  He  could  triumph  in  the  Lord. 
From  this  time,  he  walked  in  the  ways  of  God,  and,  thinking  he  had  not 
leisure  enough  in  the  day,  he  made  it  a constant  rule  to  sit  up  two  whole 
nights  in  the  week  for  reading,  prayer,  and  meditation.  At  the  same 
time,  he  lived  on  nothing  but  vegetables,  and  on  bread  with  milk  and 
water.  One  end  of  his  doing  this  was  to  avoid  dining  in  company. 
Besides  sitting  up  two  entire  nights  every  week,  his  custom  was  never 
to  sleep  so  long  as  he  could  keep  awake,  and  he  always  took  a candle 
and  book  with  him  to  bed.  One  night,  being  overcome  with  sleep 
before  he  had  put  out  his  candle,  he  dreamed  that  his  curtain,  pillow, 
and  cap  were  on  fire,  but  went  out  without  doing  him  any  harm.  And 
truly  so  it  was,  for  in  the  morning  his  curtain  was  found  burnt,  also 
a corner  of  his  pillow,  and  a part  of  his  cap,  but  not  a hair  of  his  head 
was  singed. 

“ Some  time  after  this,  he  was  favoured  with  a further  manifestation 
of  the  love  of  God,  so  powerful,  that,  he  said,  it  appeared  to  him  as  if 
his  body  and  soul  would  be  separated.  Now  all  his  desires  centred  in 
one,  that  of  devoting  himself  to  the  service  of  his  precious  Master,  which 
he  thought  he  could  best  do  by  entering  into  holy  orders.’’  ^ 

To  complete  the  accounts  of  Fletcher's  conversion,  in  1755, 
an  extract  from  another  letter  must  be  added.  In  that 
year,  writing  to  his  brother,  he  insisted  on  the  vanity  of 
earthly  pursuits,  and  then  gave  the  following  description  of 
the  change  that  had  taken  place  in  himself: — 

“ I speak  from  experience.  I have  been  successively  deluded  by  all 
those  desires,  and  sometimes  I have  been  the  sport  of  them  all  at  once. 
This  will  appear  incredible,  except  to  those  who  have  discovered  that 
the  heart  of  unregenerate  man  is  nothing  more  than  a chaos  of  obscurity 
and  a mass  of  contradictions.  If  you  have  any  acquaintance  with  your- 
self, you  will  readily  subscribe  to  this  description  of  the  human  heart. 
Every  unconverted  man  must  necessarily  be  either  a volu^tuary^  a. 
worldly-minded ;per son y or  a.;pharisaical ^philosopher : or,  perhaps,  like 
myself,  he  may  be  all  of  these  at  the  same  time  ; and,  what  is  still  more 
extraordinary,  he  may  be  so  not  only  without  believing^  but  even  without 
once  suspecting  it ; indeed,  nothing  is  more  common  among  men  than 
an  entire  blindness  to  their  own  real  characters.  How  often  have  I 
placed  my  happiness  in  mere  chimeras ! How  often  have  I grounded 
my  vain  hope  upon  imaginary  foundations ! I have  been  constantly 
employed  in  framing  designs  for  my  own  felicity ; but  my  disappoint- 
ments have  been  as  frequent  and  various  as  my  projects. 

“ If,  hitherto,  my  dear  brother,  you  have  beguiled  yourself  with  pros- 
pects of  the  same  visionary  nature,  never  expect  to  be  more  successful 
in  your  future  pursuits.  One  labour  will  only  succeed  another,  making 


* Letter  to  Mons.  H.  L.  de  la  Flechere,  1786,  p.  13. 


Age  25.]  Further  Accounts  of  Fletcher^  Conversion.  ig 


way  for  continual  discontent  and  chagrin.  Open  your  heart,  and  there 
you  will  discover  the  source  of  that  painful  inquietude  to  which,  by  your 
own  confession,  you  have  been  long  a prey.  Examine  its  secret  recesses, 
and  you  will  discover  there  sufficient  proof  of  the  following  truths : ^ The 
heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things y and  des^perately  wicked T ^ All 
have  sinned y and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God;  ^ ‘ The  thoughts  of 
man^s  heart  are  only  evily  and  that  continually ; ’ ‘ The  natural  man 
under standeth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God'  On  the  discovery 
of  these  and  other  important  truths,  you  will  be  convinced  that  man  is 
an  apostate  being,  composed  of  a sensual,  rebellious  body,  and  a soul 
immersed  in  pride,  self-love,  and  ignorance ; nay  more,  you  will  perceive 
it  a physical  impossibility  that  man  should  ever  become  truly  happy  till 
he  is  cast,  as  it  were,  into  a new  mould,  and  created  a second  time. 

For  my  own  part,  when  I first  began  to  know  myself,  I saw,  I felt 
that  man  is  an  undefinable  animal,  partly  of  a bestial  and  partly  of  an 
infernal  nature.  The  discovery  shocked  my  self-love,  and  filled  me  with 
the  utmost  horror.  I endeavoured  for  some  time  to  throw  a palliating 
disguise  over  the  wretchedness  of  my  condition,  but  the  impression  it 
had  already  made  upon  my  heart  was  too  deep  to  be  erased.  It  was  to 
no  purpose  that  I reminded  myself  of  the  morality  of  my  conduct;  it  was 
in  vain  that  I recollected  the  many  encomiums  that  had  been  passed 
upon  my  early  piety  and  virtue ; and  it  was  to  little  avail  that  I sought 
to  cast  a mist  before  my  eyes  by  reasonings  like  these  : ‘ If  conversion 
implies  a total  change,  who  has  been  converted  in  these  days  ? Why 
dost  thou  imagine  thyself  worse  than  thou  really  art  ? Thou  art  a 
believer  in  God  and  in  Christ ; thou  art  a Christian  ; thou  hast  injured 
no  person;  thou  art  neither  a drunkard  nor  an  adulterer;  thou  hast 
discharged  thy  duties  not  only  in  a general  way,  but  with  more  than 
ordinary  exactness;  thou  art  a strict  attendant  at  church;  thou  art 
accustomed  to  pray  more  regularly  than  others,  and  frequently  with  a 
good  degree  of  fervour;  make  thyself  perfectly  easy;  moreover,  Jesus 
Christ  has  suffered  for  thy  sins,  and  His  merit  will  supply  everything 
lacking  on  thy  part.^ 

It  was  by  reasonings  of  this  nature  that  I endeavoured  to  cone  ea 
from  myself  the  deplorable  state  of  my  heart ; and  I am  ashamed,  my 
dear  brother,  that  I suffered  myself  so  long  to  be  deluded  by  the  artifices 
of  Satan.  God  Himself  has  invited  me  ; a cloud  of  apostles,  prophets, 
and  martyrs  have  exhorted  me;  and  my  own  conscience,  animated  by 
those  sparks  of  grace  which  are  latent  in  every  heart,  has  urged  me 
to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  ; but,  notwithstanding  all  this,  a subtle 
temper,  a deluding  world,  and  a deceived  heart  have  constantly  turned 
the  balance,  for  above  these  twenty  years,  in  favour  of  the  broad  way. 
I have  passed  the  most  lovely  part  of  my  life  in  the  service  of  these  tyrannic 
cal  masters,  and  am  ready  to  declare  in  the  face  of  the  universe  that  all 
my  reward  has  consisted  in  disquietude  and  remorse.  Happy  had  I 
listened  to  the  earliest  invitations  of  grace,  and  broken  the  iron  yoke 
from  off  my  neck.”^ 

* Gilpin’s  Translation  of  The  Portrait  of  St.  Paul.” 


20 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1755- 


These  extracts  are  long,  but  they  are  important.  They 
contain  all  the  known  facts  connected  with  Fletcher's  con- 
version. 

In  writing  to  his  brother,  Fletcher  remarked, — “ At 
eighteen  years  of  age,  I devoted  as  much  time  as  I could 
spare  to  read  the  prophecies  of  the  Holy  Bible;”  and  it  is 
a curious  fact  that,  in  the  year  of  his  conversion,  he  wrote 
a long  letter  to  Wesley,  in  which  he  gave  a synopsis  of  the 
writings  of  “ a great  divine  abroad,”  who  had  “ spent  fifty 
years  in  making  himself  perfectly  master  of  the  Oriental 
languages,  and  in  comparing  and  explaining  the  various 
predictions  scattered  in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.” 
Fletcher  was  well  acquainted  with  this  gentleman,  and  had 
many  times  conversed  with  him  on  the  subjects  of  his  life- 
long study.  Substantially,  the  young  man  had  adopted  the 
aged  man’s  views;  and  now,  in  a condensed  form  (filling, 
however,  nineteen  octavo  printed  pages),  he  presented  them 
to  Wesley.  At  the  time,  terrific  wars  were  being  waged,  and, 
a month  before  the  date  of  Fletcher’s  letter,  the  great  earth- 
quake at  Lisbon  had  occurred.  At  such  seasons,  devout  men 
almost  instinctively  begin  to  study  prophecies,  and  hence  no 
wonder  that  Fletcher  now  felt  more  than  ordinarily  interested 
in  what,  ‘‘  for  some  years,  had  often  been  the  subject  of  his 
meditations.”  He  believed  that  the  grand  catastrophe  of 
God’s  drama  drew  near  apace,”  and  gave  his  reasons  for  such 
belief  by  referring  first  to  Nebuchadnezzar’s  dream,  “which 
is  a rough  sketch  of  the  world’s  four  universal  revolutions  ; ” 
secondly,  to  Daniel’s  vision  of  the  four  beasts ; and  thirdly,  to 
Daniel’s  vision  of  the  ram  and  he-goat,  and  the  two  thousand 
and  three  hundred  days,  at  the  end  of  which  the  “sanctuary” 
was  to  “ be  cleansed.’'  Fletcher,  by  elaborate  calculations, 
shows  that  this  cleansing  was  to  take  place  between  the 
years  1750  and  1770,  and  the  following  extract  will  indicate 
what,  in  his  opinion,  the  cleansing  meant: — 

- God  is  now  working  such  a work  as  has  not  been  seen  since  the 
Apostles^  days.  He  has  sent  some  chosen  servants  of  His,  both  in  these 
kingdoms  and  abroad,  who,  by  the  manifest  assistance  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  have  removed  the  filthy  doctrine  of  justification  by  works,  and 
the  outward  Christless  performance  of  moral  duties,  which  pollute  the 
sanctuary  and  make  it  an  abomination  to  the  Lord.  The  Holy  Ghost 
is  given,  and  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  the  hearts  of  believers 


Age  25.] 


Fletcher  a Millenarian, 


21 


as  in  the  days  of  old.  I own  that  the  cleansing  is  but  begun  ; but  this 
revolution  ^ may,  in  all  probability,  be  the  forerunner  of  a greater.  God 
has  called  ; a few  have  obeyed  His  call.  The  generality  still  shut  their 
eyes  and  ears  against  the  tender  invitations  of  their  Lord,  and  continue 
to  pollute  the  sanctuary  and  to  look  on  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  as  an 
unholy  thing.  Shall  not  God  carry  on  His  work  ? Shall  the  creature 
still  resist  the  Creator  ? and  the  arm  of  flesh  be  stronger  than  the  living 
God  Not  so.  He  will  not  always  strive  with  obdurate  hearts.  What 
the  gentle  breathings  of  His  Spirit  cannot  perform.  He  will  do  by  war, 
sword  and  Are,  plague  and  famine,  tribulation  and  anguish.  He  is 
going  to  gird  on  His  sword,  and  His  right  hand  shall  teach  Him  terrible 
things.  Nations  refuse  the  sceptre  of  His  mercy  ; what  remains,  then, 
but  to  rule  them  with  an  iron  sceptre,  and  break  them  in  pieces  like  a 
potter's  vessel?" 

Fletcher  concludes  by  arguing  in  favour  of  the  doctrine, 
that,  long  before  the  general  judgment  Christ  will  appear 
on  earth  a second  time  to  work  out  His  great  redeeming 
purposes. 

Give  me  leave.  Rev.  Sir,"  says  he,  ""to  propose  to  you  a thing  that 
many  will  look  upon  as  a great  paradox,  but  has  yet  sufficient  ground  in 
Scripture  to  raise  the  expectation  of  every  Christian  who  sincerely  looks 
for  the  coming  of  our  Lord  ; I mean  the  great  probability  that,  in  the 
midst  of  this  grand  revolution,  our  Lord  Jesus  will  suddenly  come  down 
from  heaven,  and  go  Himself  conquering  and  to  conquer  ; for  what  but 
the  greatest  prejudice  can  induce  Christians  to  think  that  the  coming 
of  our  Lord,  spoken  of  in  so  plain  terms  by  three  evangelists,  is  His  last 
coming  before  the  universal  judgment  and  the  end  of  the  world  ? " ^ 

There  cannot  be  a doubt  that,  at  this  period  of  his  life, 
Fletcher  was  what  is  commonly  called  a Millenarian.  Whether 
his  views  were  right  or  wrong,  the  reader  must  determine  for 
himself. 

When  resident  at  Tern  Hall,  Fletcher  attended  the  parish 
church  at  Atcham,  a small  village  about  five  miles  from 
Shrewsbury.  Here  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cartwright  was  the  offi- 
ciating minister,^  and  was  accustomed  to  catechise  in  public 
the  children  of  his  parishioners.  On  one  occasion,  he  invited 
the  adults  who  needed  instruction  to  appear  in  the  ranks  of 
the  catechumens,  and  told  them  that  to  do  so  would  be  no 
disgrace  to  them.  All,  however,  except  Fletcher,  either 
thought  that  to  stand  among  the  young  people  would  dis- 


^ Meaning  the  war  then  raging. 

2 Arminian  Magazine,  1793,  p.  41 1. 

^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher,"  2nd  edit.,  p.  366. 


22 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[175-6. 


grace  them,  or  that  further  instruction  in  their  case  was  not 
needed.  The  accomplished  young  scholar  from  Switzerland, 
the  tutor  of  the  two  sons  of  their  county  member,  had  a 
lower  opinion  of  his  excellences  than  the  village  peasants 
had  of  theirs  ; for,  leaving  his  seat  with  an  air  of  unaffected 
modesty,  he  took  his  place  among  the  children,  and  became 
a catechumen  of  the  village  pastor.^ 

At  Atcham,  Fletcher  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Vaughan, 
an  excise  officer,  who  gave  to  Wesley  the  following  account 
of  his  deeply-revered  friend  : — 

It  was  our  ordinary  custom,  when  the  church  service  was  over,  to 
retire  into  the  most  lonely  fields  or  meadows,  where  we  frequently  either 
kneeled  down,  or  prostrated  ourselves  on  the  ground.  At  those  happy 
seasons,  I was  a witness  of  such  pleadings  and  wrestlings  with  God,  such 
exercises  of  faith  and  love,  as  I have  not  known  in  any  one  ever  since. 
The  consolations,  which  we  then  received  from  God,  induced  us  to 
appoint  two  or  three  nights  in  a week,  when  we  duly  met,  after  his 
pupils  were  asleep.  We  met  also  constantly  on  Sunday,  between  four 
and  five  in  the  morning.  Sometimes  I stepped  into  his  study  on  other 
days.  I rarely  saw  any  book  before  him,  besides  the  Bible  and  the 
Christia  n Pa  Item . ^ ’ 

Our  interviews  for  singing  and  conversation  were  seldom  concluded 
without  prayer,  in  which  we  were  frequently  joined  by  her  who  is  now 
my  wife  (then  a servant  in  the  family),  and  by  a poor  widow  in  the 
village,  who  had  known  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  and  who  died 
some  years  ago,  praising  God  with  her  latest  breath.  These  were  the 
only  persons  in  the  village  whom  he  chose  for  his  familiar  friends  ; but 
he  sometimes  walked  to  Shrewsbury,  to  see  Mrs.  Glynne  or  Mr.  Appleton. 
He  also  visited  the  poor  in  the  neighbourhood  who  were  sick  ; and,  when 
no  other  person  could  be  procured,  performed  even  the  meanest  offices 
for  them.” 

Besides  the  godly  friends  mentioned  in  this  interesting 
statement,  Fletcher  had  another  acquaintance  at  Atcham, 
whom  he  visited  to  be  instructed  in  singing.  This  gentleman 
supplied  Wesley  with  what  follows  : — 

remember  but  little  of  that  man  of  God,  Mr.  Fletcher,  it  being 
above  nine-and-twenty  years  since  I last  saw  him ; but  this  I well 
remember,  his  conversation  with  me  was  always  sweet  and  savoury. 
He  was  too  wise  to  suffer  any  of  his  precious  moments  to  be  trifled 
away.  When  company  dined  at  Mr.  Hill’s,  he  frequently  retired  into 
the  garden,  and  contentedly  dined  on  a piece  of  bread  and  a few  bunches 
of  currants.  Indeed,  in  his  whole  manner  of  living  he  was  a pattern  of 


^ Gilpin’s  note,  in  ‘‘Portrait  of  St.  Paul.” 


Age  27.] 


Fletcher  and  his  Pious  Friends. 


23 


abstemiousness.  Meantime,  how  great  was  his  sweetness  of  temper 
and  heavenly-mindedness  ! I never  saw  it  equalled  in  any  one.  How 
often,  when  I parted  with  him  at  Tern  Hall,  have  his  eyes  and  hands 
been  lifted  up  to  heaven,  to  implore  a blessing  upon  me,  with  fervour 
and  devoutness  unequalled  by  any  I ever  witnessed.  I firmly  believe 
he  has  not  left  in  this  land,  or  perhaps  in  any  other,  one  luminary  like 
himself.”  ^ 

These  glimpses  of  Fletcher,  at  this  early  period  of  his  life, 
are  too  valuable  and  important  to  be  omitted. 

It  is  impossible  to  determine  the  exact  date  when  he 
joined  the  Methodist  Society  in  London,  but  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  it  was  as  early  as  the  year  1756,  and  probably 
a year  or  two  earlier.  Hence  the  following  extract  from 
a letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Richard  Edwards,  the  leader  of 
the  London  class  in  which  Fletcher  had  been  enrolled  a 
member  : — 

“Tern,  October  19,  1756. 

“ Dearest  Brother, — This  is  to  let  you  know  that  I am  very  well 
in  body  and  pretty  well  in  soul ; but  I have  very  few  friends  here,  and 
God  has  been  pleased  to  take  away  the  chief  of  those  few  by  a most 
comfortable  death.  My  aged  father  also  is  gone  the  way  of  all  flesh. 
For  some  years,  I have  written  to  him  with  as  much  freedom  as  I could 
have  done  to  a son,  though  not  with  so  much  effect  as  I wished.  But, 
last  spring,  God  visited  him  with  a severe  illness,  which  brought  him  to 
a sense  of  himself ; and,  after  a deep  repentance,  he  died  about  a month 
ago,  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith.”  ^ 

Fletcher,  at  Geneva,  had  refused  to  enter  the  Christian 
ministry;  now  he  entertained  the  most  serious  thoughts  of 
devoting  himself  to  it  ; but  before  doing  so  he  wrote  to 
Wesley,  with  whom  he  had  become  acquainted. 

“Tern,  November  24,  1756. 

“ Rev.  Sir, — As  I look  on  you  as  my  spiritual  guide,  and  cannot 
doubt  of  your  patience  to  hear,  and  your  experience  to  answer,  a serious 
question  proposed  by  any  of  your  people,  I freely  lay  my  case  before  you. 

“ Since  the  first  time  I began  to  feel  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in 
my  heart,  which  was,  I think,  when  seven  }^ears  of  age,  I resolved  to 
give  myself  up  to  Him  and  the  service  of  His  Church,  if  ever  I was  fit 
for  it ; but  the  corruption  which  is  in  the  world,  and  that  which  was  in 
my  heart,  soon  weakened,  if  not  erased,  those  first  characters  that  grace 
had  wrote  upon  it.  However,  I went  through  my  studies  with  a design 
of  going  into  Orders  ; but  afterwards,  upon  serious  reflection,  feeling  I 


^ Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 
Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


24 


Wesleys  Designated  Successor. 


[1756 


was  unequal  for  so  great  a burden,  and  disgusted  by  the  necessity  I 
should  be  under  to  subscribe  to  the  doctrine  of  predestination,  I yielded  to 
the  desire  of  my  friends,  who  would  have  me  go  into  the  army.  But  just 
before  I was  quite  engaged  in  a military  employment,  I met  with  such 
disappointments  as  occasioned  my  coming  to  England.  Here  I was 
called  outwardly  three  times  to  go  into  Orders ; but,  upon  praying  to 
God  that  if  those  calls  were  not  from  Him  they  might  come  to  nothing, 
something  always  blasted  the  designs  of  my  friends  ; and  in  this  I have 
often  admired  the  goodness  of  God,  who  prevented  me  rushing  into  that 
important  employment,  as  the  horse  does  into  the  battle.  I never  was 
more  thankful  for  this  favour  than  since  I heard  the  Gospel  preached  in 
its  purity.  Before,  I had  been  afraid ; but  then  I trembled  to  meddle 
with  holy  things,  and  resolved  to  work  out  my  salvation  privately,  without 
engaging  in  a way  of  life  which  required  so  much  more  grace  and  gifts 
than  I possessed.  Yet,  from  time  to  time,  I felt  warm  and  strong  desires 
to  cast  myself  and  all  my  inability  upon  the  Lord,  if  I should  be  called 
again,  knowing  that  He  could  help  me,  and  show  His  strength  in  my 
weakness  ; and  these  desires  were  increased  by  some  little  success  that 
attended  my  exhortations  and  letters  to  my  friends. 

I think  it  necessary  to  let  you  know.  Sir,  that  my  patron  often 
desired  me  to  take  Orders,  and  said  he  would  soon  help  me  to  a living ; 
to  which  I coldly  answered,  I was  not  fit,  and  that  besides  I did  not 
know  how  to  get  a title.  The  thing  was  in  that  state  when,  about  six 
weeks  ago,  a gentleman  I hardly  knew  offered  me  a living,  which,  in 
all  probability,  will  be  vacant  very  soon  ; and  a clergyman,  that  I never 
spoke  to,  gave  me,  of  his  own  accord,  the  title  of  curate  to  one  of  his 
livings.  Now,  Sir,  the  question  which  I beg  you  to  decide  is,  whether 
I must  and  can  make  use  of  that  title  to  get  into  Orders  ? For  with 
respect  to  the  living,  were  it  vacant,  I have  no  mind  to  it,  because  I think 
I could  preach  with  more  fruit  in  my  own  country  and  in  my  own  tongue. 

I am  in  suspense ; on  one  side,  my  heart  tells  me  I must  try,  and  it 
tells  me  so  whenever  I feel  any  degree  of  the  love  of  God  and  man  ; 
but,  on  the  other,  when  I examine  whether  I am  fit  for  it,  I so  plainly 
see  my  want  of  gifts,  and  especially  of  that  soul  of  all  the  labours  of  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel — love^  continual,  universal,  flaming  love,  that 
my  confidence  disappears  ; I accuse  myself  of  pride  to  dare  to  entertain 
the  desire  of  supporting  the  ark  of  the  Lord,  and  conclude  that  an 
extraordinary  punishment  w’ill  sooner  or  later  overtake  my  rashness. 
As  I am  in  both  these  frames  successively,  I must  own.  Sir,  I do  not 
see  plainly  which  of  the  two  ways  before  me  I can  take  with  safety,  and 
I shall  be  glad  to  be  ruled  by  you,  because  I trust  God  will  direct  you 
in  giving  me  the  advice  you  think  will  best  conduce  to  His  glory,  the 
only  thing  I would  have  in  view  in  this  alfair.  I know  how  precious  is 
your  time ; I desire  no  long  answer  \—;persist  or  forbear  will  satisfy 
and  influence.  Sir,  your  unworthy  servant,  ‘‘ J.  Fletcher.'’^ 


^ ‘‘  Thirteen  Original  Letters,  written  by  the  late  Rev.  John  Fletcher. 
Bath,  1791/'  i2mo,  p.  3. 


Age  27.]  Fietcher  on  Sacraments  in  Methodist  Chapels.  25 


Wesley's  answer  to  this  important  letter  has  not  been 
preserved.  Perhaps  no  letter  was  written.  Wesley  was 
now  in  London.  Parliament  met  eight  days  after  Fletcher 
wrote  to  him.  Public  affairs  were  in  a critical  condition, 
and,  no  doubt,  Mr.  Hill  would  feel  it  a duty  to  be  present 
at  the  opening  of  the  session.  When  he  came  to  London 
to  fulfil  his  parliamentary  duties,  it  was  his  custom  to  bring 
his  sons  and  their  tutor  with  him.  That  Fletcher  was  now 
in  London  is  evident  from  the  following  letter,  addressed  to 
Wesley  within  three  weeks  after  the  date  of  his  former  one. 
Of  course,  he  would  have  an  interview  with  Wesley  as  early 
as  possible,  and  in  all  likelihood  Wesley,  at  this  interview, 
not  only  advised  him  to  be  ordained,  but  likewise  dissuaded 
him  from  his  purpose  to  return  to  Switzerland.  There  is 
no  reference  in  the  letter  to  Fletcher’s  proposed  ordination, 
for,  doubtless,  that  was  a matter  already  settled.  Fletcher 
had  been  attending  sacramental  services  in  Wesley’s  London 
chapels ; and  it  had  occurred  to  him  that  these  services 
might  be  much  improved,  and  Wesley  himself  considerably 
relieved.  To  say  the  least,  the  letter  is  full  of  interest,  and 
contains  a hint  which,  in  large  societies,  might  be  profitably 
adopted. 

December  $6. 

Sir, — When  I have  received  the  sacrament  in  your  chapels,  though 
I admired  the  order  and  decency  with  which  that  awful  part  of  the 
divine  worship  was  performed,  I thought  there  was  something  wanting, 
which  might  make  it  still  more  profitable  and  solemn. 

“As  the  number  of  communicants  is  generally  very  great,  the  time 
spent  in  receiving  is  long  enough  for  many,  I am  afraid,  to  feel  their 
devotion  languish,  and  their  desires  grow  cold,  for  want  of  outward  fuel. 
In  order  to  prevent  this,  you  interrupt,  from  time  to  time,  the  service  of 
the  table,  to  put  up  a short  prayer,  or  to  sing  a verse  or  two  of  a hymn  ; 
and  I do  not  doubt  but  many  have  found  the  benefit  of  that  method. 
But,  as  you  can  spare  very  little  time,  you  are  obliged  to  be  satisfied 
with  scattering  those  few  drops,  instead  of  a continual  rain.  Would 
not  that  want  be  easily  supplied.  Sir,  if  you  were  to  appoint  the  preachers 
who  may  be  present  to  do  what  you  cannot  possibly  do  yourself,  to  pray 
and  sing  without  interruption,  as  at  a watchnight  ? 

“This  would  have  several  good  effects:  i.  Experience,  as  well  as 
the  nature  of  the  thing  itself,  shows  every  sincere  seeker  that,  as  it  is 
the  fittest  time  to  ask,  and  the  most  ordinary  to  receive  grace,  every 
moment  ought  to  be  improved  to  the  best  advantage.  2.  Continual 
praying  and  singing  would  prevent  the  wanderings  of  many,  who  are 


26 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1757- 


not  convinced  of  sin  deeply  enough,  or  influenced  by  grace  strongly 
enough,  to  mourn  and  pray  without  interruption,  if  they  are  left  to 
themselves.  3.  It  would  increase  the  earnestness  of  believers  ; for 
though  every  one  wrestles  probably  in  his  own  heart  both  for  himself 
and  the  congregation,  yet  their  prayers  would  certainly  have  more 
power  if  united,  and  the  general  fire  would  increase  the  warmth  of  their 
affections.  4.  In  praying  frequently  for  universal  love,  as  the  remem- 
brance of  Christ’s  bleeding  love  naturally  directs  us  to  do,  you  would 
add  for  many  the  benefit  and  comfort  of  a lovefeast  to  the  advantages 
that  attend  the  Holy  Eucharist.  5.  If  the  prayers  were  especially  calcu- 
lated for  those  that  receive,  is  it  not  probable.  Sir,  that  they  would  be 
extremely  encouraged  to  act  faith,  to  touch  the  hem  of  Christ’s  garment, 
to  cast  their  burden  upon  Him,  and  to  lay  hold  of  eternal  life,  if  they 
heard  their  weak  petitions  supported  by  the  fervent  prayers  of  their 
brethren,  at  the  same  time  that  they  feed,  or  are  going  to  feed,  on  the 
blessed  signs  of  Christ’s  body  and  blood  ? 

It  may  be  objected: — i.  That  some  may  prefer  to  pour  out  their 
souls  before  God  according  to  their  different  frames,  whether  it  be  dead- 
ness, desertion,  joy,  overflowings  of  humility,  repentance,  love,  etc.  And 
so  they  might ; but  I do  not  see  how  general  prayer  and  singing  would 
rob  them  of  that  liberty,  if  they  thought  it  more  acceptable  to  God  and 
beneficial  to  themselves  ; and  their  praying  in  private  would  not  hinder 
the  bulk  of  the  congregation  from  uniting  with  joy  in  the  public  service. 
2.  That  this  method  might  bring  in  a confusion  greater  than  the  advan- 
tages it  seems  to  be  attended  with.  But  could  not  prudence  obviate 
this  ? I am  sure  it  could ; for  I have  seen  that,  or  something  like  it, 
performed  in  a congregation  of  a thousand  communicants  without  the 
least  confusion,  and  to  the  great  edification  and  comfort  of  many. 

But  you  are  the  best  judge.  Sir  ; and  if  I take  the  liberty  of  giving 
you  this  hint,  to  make  of  it  what  use  you  think  fit,  it  is  because  you 
said  lately  in  the  Society  that  you  heard  willingly  the  observations  of 
your  people,  and  were  ready  to  follow  or  improve  them  if  they  were  just 
and  reasonable. 

I am.  Sir,  your  unworthy  servant, 

-''John  Fletcher.”^ 

Within  three  months  after  this,  Fletcher  was  ordained. 
On  Sunday,  March  6,  1757,  he  received  beacon's  orders  from 
the  Bishop  of  Hereford  ; and  priest’s  orders  on  the  Sunday 
following  from  the  Bishop  of  Bangor,  in  the  Chapel  Royal 
at  St.  James’s.^ 

On  the  day  he  was  ordained  priest,  he  hastened  to 
Snowsfields  Chapel,  to  assist  Wesley  in  one  of  those  heavy 


^ Methodist  Magazine,  1798,  p.  93. 
^ Gilpin’s  " Portrait  of  St.  Paul.” 


Age  27.] 


Fletcher  Ordained, 


27 


sacramental  services  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  letter. 
Wesley  writes  : — 

‘‘  1757,  Sunday,  March  13.  Finding  myself  weak  at  Snowsfields,  I 
prayed  (if  He  saw  good)  that  God  would  send  me  help  at  the  chapel, 
and  I had  it.  As  soon  as  I had  done  preaching,  Mr.  Fletcher  came, 
who  had  just  been  ordained  priest,  and  hastened  to  the  chapel  011  pur- 
pose to  assist  me  in  the  administration  of  the  Lord’s  supper,  as  he 
supposed  me  to  be  alone. 

Sunday,  March  20.  Mr.  Fletcher  helped  me  again.  How  won- 
derful are  the  ways  of  God ! When  my  bodily  strength  failed,  and 
none  in  England  were  able  and  willing  to  assist  me,  He  sent  me  help 
from  the  mountains  of  Switzerland,  and  an  helpmeet  for  me  in  every 
respect ; where  could  I have  found  such  another  ?”  * 

Thus  did  Fletcher  begin  his  remarkable  ministerial  life  in 
a Methodist  meeting-house. 


Wesley’s  ''Works,”  voL  ii.,  p.  376;  and  vol.  vii.,  p.  415. 


28 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1757. 


CHAPTER  III. 

FROM  HIS  ORDINATION  TO  HIS  SETTLEMENT 
AT  MADELEY. 

1757  TO  1760. 

r^OR  three  years  after  his  ordination,  Fletcher  was  with- 
out a Church  appointment.  How  did  he  spend  this 
interval  ? Wesley  says  : — 

He  was  now  doubly  diligent  in  preaching,  not  only  in  the  chapels  at 
West  Street  and  Spitalfields,  but  wherever  the  providence  of  God  opened 
a door  to  proclaim  the  everlasting  Gospel.  This  he  did  frequently  in 
French  (as  well  as  in  English),  of  which  all  judges  allowed  him  to  be  a 
complete  master.’^ ^ 

As  might  be  expected,  Fletcher  soon  became  a great 
favourite  among  the  first  Methodists.  Almost  at  once,  he 
was  the  highly  esteemed  friend  of  Miss  Bosanquet  (his  future 
wife),  Ann  Tripp,  Sarah  Crosby,  Sarah  Ryan,^  Thomas 
Walsh,  and  others,  whose  Methodistic  fame  will  never  perish. 
After  his  death,  in  1785,  Mrs.  Crosby  wrote  : — 

‘‘It  is  now  eight  or  nine  and  twenty  years  since  I was  first  favoured 
with  Mr.  Fletcher’s  heavenly  conversation,  in  company  with  Mr.  Walsh 
and  a few  other  friends,  most  of  whom  are  now  in  the  world  of  spirits. 
At  these  seasons,  how  frequently  did  we  feel — 

‘ The  o’erwhelming  power  of  saving  grace  ! ’ 

How  frequently  were  we  silenced  thereby,  while  tears  of  love  our  souls 
o’erflowed  ! It  atfects  me  while  I recollect  the  humility,  fervour  of 
spirit,  and  strength  of  faith  with  which  dear  Mr.  Fletcher  so  often 
poured  out  his  soul  before  the  Great  Three  One,  at  whose  feet  we  have 
lain  in  holy  shame  and  silence,  till  earth  seemed  turned  to  heaven.  I 
heard  this  heavenly-minded  servant  of  the  Lord  preach  his  first  sermon 


’ Wesley’s  “Works,”  vol.  vii.,  p.  415. 

^ Tyerman’s  “Life  of  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  pp.  286,  289. 


Age  27.]  Fletcher  Preachmg  in  Shropshire. 


29 


in  West  Street  chapel.  I think  his  text  was,  ^ Reppent^  for  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  at  hafidi  His  spirit  appeared  in  his  whole  attitude  and 
action.  He  could  not  well  find  words  in  the  English  language  to  express 
himself ; but  he  supplied  that  defect  by  offering  up  prayers,  tears,  and 
sighs.  Nearly  about  this  time  he  saw  Miss  Bosanquet,  and  began  his 
acquaintance  with  her  ; but,  although  they  highly  esteemed  each  other, 
they  had  no  correspondence  for  above  twenty  years.”  ^ 

Fletcher  still  continued  to  be  the  tutor  of  the  sons  of  Mr. 
Hill.  During  the  sitting  of  Parliament,  he  was  in  London  ; 
the  remainder  of  the  year  was  chiefly  spent  at  Tern  Hall.^ 
Whilst  at  the  latter  place,  he  preached,  on  June  19,  1757, 
for  the  first  time  in  the  church  at  Atcham,  taking  as  his 
text,  ‘ Ye  adulterers  and  adidtresses^  know  ye  not  that  the 
friendship  of  the  world  is  enmity  against  God  ? ''  ‘‘  A very 

bold  beginning,”  wrote  his  friend  Mr.  Vaughan.  The  con- 
gregation stood  amazed,  and  gazed  upon  him  as  if  he  had  been 
a monster  ; but  to  me  he  appeared  as  a messenger  sent  from 
heaven.  It  was  not  soon  that  he  was  invited  again  to  preach 
in  Atcham  church,  but  he  was  invited  to  preach  in  others  ; 
first  in  Wroxeter,  and  afterwards  at  the  Abbey  Church  in 
Shrewsbury  but  I doubt  whether  he  preached  more  than 
six  times  in  the  six  months  he  stayed  in  the  country.  On 
my  saying  I wished  he  had  more  opportunities  of  preaching, 
he  answered,  ‘ The  will  of  God  be  done;  I am  in  His  hands. 
If  He  does  not  call  me  to  so  much  public  duty,  I have  the 
more  time  for  study,  prayer,  and  praise.'  ” ^ 

In  the  month  of  May,  1757,  Wesley  was  in  the  north  of 
England  and  Fletcher  was  in  London.  The  following  letter 
to  Wesley  needs  no  further  introduction  : — 

London,  May  26,  1757. 

Rev.  Sir, — If  I did  not  write  to  you  before  Mrs.  Wesley  had  asked 
me,  it  was  not  that  I wanted  a remembrancer  within,  but  rather  an 
encourager  without.  There  is  generally  upon  my  heart  such  a sense  of 
my  unworthiness,  that  sometimes  I dare  hardly  open  my  mouth  before 
a child  of  God,  and  think  it  an  unspeakable  honour  to  stand  before  one 
who  has  recovered  something  of  the  image  of  God,  or  sincerely  seeks 


^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher,”  2 edit.,  p.  320. 

^ Wesley’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Benson  says,  He  also  preached  twice  in  St.  Alkmond’s  Church  in 
Shrewsbury.” 

^ Wesley’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


30 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


ti757. 


after  it.  Is  it  possible  that  such  a sinful  worm  as  I should  have  the 
privilege  to  converse  with  one  whose  soul  is  besprinkled  with  the  blood 
of  my  Lord  ? The  thought  amazes,  confounds  me,  and  fills  my  eyes  with 
tears  of  humble  joy.  Judge,  then,  at  what  distance  I must  see  myself 
from  you  if  I am  so  much  below  the  least  of  your  children  ; and  whether 
a remembrancer  within  suffices  to  make  me  presume  to  write  to  you, 
whose  shoes  I am  not  worthy  to  bear. 

‘‘  I rejoice  that  you  find  everywhere  an  increase  of  praying  souls.  I 
doubt  not  that  the  prayer  of  the  just  has  great  power  with  God,  but  I 
cannot  believe  that  it  should  hinder  the  fulfilling  of  Christ's  gracious 
promises  to  His  Church.  He  must,  and  certainly  will,  come  at  the  time 
appointed,  for  He  is  not  slack,  as  some  men  count  slackness ; and, 
although  He  would  have  all  come  to  repentance.  He  has  not  forgotten 
to  be  true  and  just.  Only  He  will  come  with  more  mercy,  and  will  increase 
the  light  that  shall  be  at  eventide,  according  to  His  promise  in  Zech. 
xiv.  7.  I should  rather  think  that  the  visions  are  not  yet  plainly  dis- 
closed, and  that  the  day  and  year  in  which  the  Lord  will  begin  to  make 
bare  His  arm  openly,  are  still  concealed  from  us. 

I must  say  concerning  Mr.  Walsh, ^ as  he  once  said  to  me  concern- 
ing God,  ^ I wish  I could  attend  him  everywhere,  as  Elisha  attended 
Elijah.'  But  since  the  will  of  God  calls  me  from  him,  I must  submit, 
and  drink  the  cup  prepared  for  me.  I have  not  seen  him,  unless  for  a 
few  moments  three  or  four  times  before  divine  service.  We  must  meet 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  or  meet  but  seldom.  Oh  when  will  the  communion 
of  saints  be  complete  ? Lord,  hasten  the  time,  and  let  me  have  a place 
among  them  who  love  Thee,  and  love  one  another  in  sincerity  ! 

I set  out  in  two  days  for  the  country.  Oh  may  I be  faithful ; harm- 
less, like  a dove ; wise,  like  a serpent ; and  bold,  as  a lion,  for  the 
common  cause ! O Lord,  do  not  forsake  me  ! Stand  by  the  weakest 
of  Thy  servants,  and  enable  Thy  children  to  bear  with  me  and  to  wrestle 
with  Thee  on  my  behalf ! 

Oh  bear  with  me,  dear  Sir,  and  give  me  your  blessing  every  day,  and 
the  Lord  will  return  to  you  sevenfold. 

‘‘I  am.  Rev.  Sir,  your  unworthy  servant,  J.  Fletcher."^ 

There  is  no  need  to  dwell  on  Fletcher’s  humbleness,  as 
displayed  in  this  letter,  for  that  was  one  of  his  chief  character- 
istics to  the  end  of  life.  It  may  be  added,  however,  that  the 
letter  furnishes  fresh  proof  that  Fletcher  was  one  of  the 
godly  few  who  were  expecting  the  speedy  appearance  of  the 


* Thomas  Walsh,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  Wesley's  Itinerants. 
To  say  nothing  of  his  piety  and  usefulness,  Wesley  declared  him  to  be 
the  best  Hebrew  scholar  he  had  ever  met.  He  died  two  years  after  the 
date  of  Fletcher's  letter. 

^ ^‘Thirteen  Original  Letters,  written  by  the  Rev.  J.  Fletcher,  1791," 

p.  8. 


Age  28.] 


Fletcher  Preaching  in  Churches, 


31 


incarnate  and  glorified  Redeemer.  It  is  probable  that  his 
letter  to  Wesley  on  prophecy  had  led  Wesley  to  advert  to 
the  same  subject,  and  that  this  was  Fletcher’s  answer  to  one 
■of  Wesley’s  critiques. 

Three  weeks  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Fletcher  preached 
his  first  sermon  in  a church.  This  was  at  Atcham,  on  June  19, 
as  already  stated.  As  in  the  case  of  Wesley,  churches,  how- 
ever, were  soon  closed  against  him.  To  his  friend  and  class- 
leader,  Mr.  Edwards,  of  London,  he  wrote  : — 

I thank  you  for  your  encouraging  observations.  I want  them,  and 
use  them  by  the  grace  of  God.  When  I received  yours,  I had  not  had 
one  opportunity  of  preaching  ; so  incensed  were  all  the  clergy  against 
me.  One,  however,  let  me  have  the  use  of  his  church — the  Abbey 
Church  at  Shrewsbury.  I preached  in  the  forenoon  with  some  degree 
of  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit.  The  congregation  was  very  numer- 
ous, and*  I believe  one  half,  at  least,  desired  to  hear  me  again.  But 
the  minister  would  not  let  me  have  the  pulpit  any  more.  The  next 
Sunday,  the  minister  of  a neighbouring  parish  lying  a-dying,  I was  sent 
for  to  officiate  for  him.  He  died  a few  days  after,  and  the  chief  man 
in  the  parish  offered  to  make  interest  that  I might  succeed  him ; but  I 
could  not  consent.  The  next  Sunday  I preached  at  Shrewsbury  again, 
but  in  another  church.  The  next  day  I set  out  for  Bristol,  and  was 
much  refreshed  among  the  brethren.  As  I returned,  I called  at  New 
Kingswood,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Bristol.  The  minister  offering  me 
his  church,  I preached  to  a numerous  congregation,  gathered  on  half 
an  hour’s  notice.  I think  the  seed  then  sown  will  not  be  lost.”  ^ 

Early  in  the  year  1758,  Wesley  introduced  Fletcher  to 
the  Countess  of  Huntingdon.  Her  ladyship  wrote 

‘‘  1758,  March  19.  I have  seen  Mr.  Fletcher,  and  was  both  pleased 
and  refreshed  by  the  interview.  He  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Wesley, 
who  had  frequently  mentioned  him  in  terms  of  high  commendation,  as 
had  Mr.  Whitefield,  Mr.  Charles  Wesley,  and  others,  so  that  I was 
anxious  to  become  acquainted  with  one  so  devoted,  and  who  appears 
to  glory  in  nothing,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Divine  Lord  and  Master. 
Hearing  that  he  preached  in  French,  his  native  language,  I mentioned 
the  case  of  the  French  prisoners  at  Tunbridge.  May  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  bless  his  word,  and  send  forth  many  such  faithful  ambassadors !”  2 

Fletcher  was  becoming  famous.  Already,  in  his  twenty- 
ninth  year,  he  had  gained  the  love  and  admiration  of  the 


^ Benson’s  ‘‘  Life  of  Fletcher,”  2nd  edit.,  p.  38. 

^ “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  231. 


32 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1758. 


Wesley  brothers,  of  Whitefield,  and  of  the  Methodist  great 
“ elect  lady.’'  At  her  request,  Fletcher  hied  away  to 
Tunbridge,  and  preached  to  a congregation  of  prisoners  on 
their  parole,  who  were  so  deeply  affected  by  the  truth,  which 
many  of  them  had  not  heard  before,  that  they  earnestly 
requested  he  would  preach  to  them  every  Sunday.  They 
pi^oceeded  even  further,  for  they  signed  and  sent  a petition 
to  Sherlock,  Bishop  of  London,  begging  him  to  allow  Fletcher 
to  officiate  as  their  weekly  chaplain.  Strangely  enough, 
notwithstanding  Sherlock’s  high  repute  for  piety,  he  peremp- 
torily rejected  the  prisoners’  petition.  Wesley  says  : If  I 

had  known  this  at  the  time.  King  George  should  have  known 
it,  and  I believe  he  would  have  given  the  Bishop  little 
thanks.”^ 

Fletcher,  as  usual,  continued  in  London  with  his  pupils 
until  the  prorogation  of  Parliament,  when  Mr.  Hill  and  his 
family  returned  to  their  country  home.  The  journey  to 
Shropshire  was  made  in  the  family  coach ; but,  unfortunately, 
Mr.  Hill  commenced  it  on  the  Sabbath-day.^  This  was  a 
trial  to  Fletcher.  Hence  the  following  letter  to  Charles 
Wesley  : — 

''Tern,  June  6,  1758. 

" Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — Before  I took  my  leave  of  you,  the  Sunday 
I set  out,  and  indeed  almost  all  the  time  I was  at  the  communion  table, 
I felt  some  degree  of  condemnation,  as  if,  by  setting  out  on  that  day,  I 
profaned  the  Sabbath,  and  the  Lord's  supper;  whereupon  those  words 
came  strongly  to  my  mind,  ' Therefore  many  among  you  are  sick  and 
weak,  and  some  are  dead.'  I immediately  found  myself  out  of  order, 
and  had  much  ado  to  reach  home  after  the  service  was  over.  Till  the 
horses  were  at  the  door,  I thought  I should  not  be  able  to  go  ; but  found 
myself  then  a little  strengthened.  The  next  day,  I was  much  worse, 
and  they  were  obliged  to  make  room  for  me  in  the  coach.  The  day 
after,  I was  still  worse,  and  really  thought  it  would  be  my  last.  About 
noon,  while  the  family  was  at  dinner,  I collected  what  little  strength  I 
had  left ; and,  falling  prostrate  before  the  Lord,  I besought  Him  not  to 
cut  me  off  among  heathens,  but  to  grant  me  the  favour  of  comforting 
and  being  comforted  by  some  Christian  at  my  death.  This  request,  so 
contrary  to  true  resignation,  I think  reached  the  ear  of  the  Lord.  He 
rebuked  the  rage  of  the  fever,  and  sensibly  filled  my  soul  with  all  peace 


' Wesley's  " Life  of  Fletcher." 

2 Wesley  himself  not  infrequently  set  out  on  his  long  journey  to  the 
north  on  Sunday. 


Age  28.] 


Letter  to  Charles  Wesley, 


33 


in  believing;  so  that  I saw  I was  yet  for  the  land  of  the  living.  Nay, 
a few  hours  after,  I found  myself  as  well  as  ever ; and  so  I continue 
now  by  God’s  grace. 

''What  have  I to  do  but  to  make  good  use  of  the  health  and  leisure 
I have  in  this  retreat  ? I see  my  duty,  and  I form  resolutions  ; but, 
alas  ! I carry  with  me  a wicked  heart,  which  enters  not  into  these  pro- 
jects ; and  Satan  is  never  more  assiduous  and  eager  to  injure  us  than 
in  retirement.  I feel,  however,  by  the  grace  of  God,  determined  to 
sustain  all  the  attacks  of  the  flesh  and  of  the  devil,  and  to  seize  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  by  force.  The  Lord  has  been  particularly  gracious 
to  me,  in  putting  it  into  my  heart  to  pray  for  the  brethren.  I have 
experienced  more  power  and  more  pleasure  in  this  duty  of  intercession 
than  I have  ever  done.  You  will  rightly  judge  that  you  are  not  forgotten 
in  these  poor  prayers ; and  I hope  that  you  also  sometimes  remember 
me. 

"I  hope  you  have  overcome  the  scruple  which  prevented  you  from 
giving  Mr.  Maxfleld  full  liberty  to  labour  for  the  Lord  among  us.*  The 
interest  of  the  brethren,  and  no  other  motive,  makes  me  desire  it. 

" I shall  not  see  you  in  Bristol  the  journey  of  my  pupils  not  taking 
place  at  the  time  expected.  May  the  Lord  be  with  you  more  and  more 
in  your  labours  and  in  your  devotions  ! Farewell ! 

"John  Fletcher.”^ 

At  this  period,  Sarah  Ryan,  with  whom  Fletcher  had 
become  acquainted,  was  acting  as  the  housekeeper  in 
Wesley’s  “New  Room”  at  Bristol.^  To  her  Fletcher  ad- 
dressed the  following  hitherto  unpublished  letter  : — 

"Tern,  October  12,  1758. 

" My  Sister, — Where  shall  I begin  the  sad  account  I must  give  you 
of  my  numberless  infldelities  from  the  time  I left  you  ? That  very  day, 
having  been  called  to  preach  in  a church  on  our  way,  the  freedom  with 
which  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  do  it  puffed  me  up  in  some  measure. 
The  clear  sight  of  the  prize  of  my  high  calling  was  clouded,  and  so  it 
remained  till  I got  home,  when  it  pleased  God  to  revive  my  hope  full  of 


* It  is  difficult  to  determine  what  is  meant  by  this  ; most  likely 
Fletcher  wished  Thomas  Maxfleld  to  preach  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Tern  Hall.  Five  years  afterwards,  Maxfleld  left  Wesley,  and  became 
an  ordained  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England. 

2 Wesley’s  Annual  Conference  was  held  in  Bristol,  in  August,  1758. 

^ Fletcher’s  "Works,”  vol.  viii.,  p.  154. 

^ Previous  to  becoming  Wesley’s  housekeeper,  Sarah  Ryan,  Mary 
Clarke,  and  Sarah  Crosby  lived  together,  in  a small  house  in  Christo- 
pher Alley,  Moorfields.  It  was  here  that  Miss  Bosanquet  (afterwards 
Fletcher’s  wife)  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Sarah  Ryan,  in  1757. 
(See  " Life  of  Mrs.  Fletcher,”  by  Henry  Moore,  pp.  17- 20.) 

3 


34 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1758- 


immortality,  and  to  enable  me  to  hunger  and  thirst  after  the  everlasting 
righteousness  that  shall  be  brought  into  the  souls  of  those  in  whom  faith 
shall  have  its  perfect  work.  During  a few  days,  I rejoiced  because  of 
the  power  I had  over  the  sin  that  most  easily  beset  me, — I mean  drowsi- 
ness ; but,  alas  ! *my  triumph  was  but  short ; for,  if  the  enemy  did  not 
come  in  at  this  door,  another,  no  less  effectual,  was  opened  to  him. 
Just  as  I was  going  to  resume  my  daily  course  of  business,  I was  called 
to  preach  in  a church  at  Salop,  and  was  obliged  to  compose  a sermon 
in  the  moments  I should  have  spent  in  prayer.  Hurry  and  the  want  of 
a single  eye  again  drew  a veil  between  the  prize  and  my  soul.  In  the 
meantime,  Sunday  came,  and  God  rejected  my  impure  service,  and 
abhorred  the  labour  of  my  polluted  soul ; and,  while  others  imputed  my 
not  preaching  to  the  fear  of  the  minister  who  had  invited  me  to  his 
pulpit,  and  to  the  threatenings  of  a mob,  I saw  the  wisdom  and  holiness 
of  God,  and  rejoiced  in  that  providence  which  does  all  without  the 
assistance  of  hurrying  Uzzah. 

In  general,  I find  I am  surrounded  with  thousands  of  temptations, 
so  much  the  more  dangerous  because  they  are  disguised  under  the 
appearance  of  duties.  I find,  at  times,  such  an  alienation  to  religious 
duties  as  makes  me  almost  question  whether  I have  a grain  of  living 
faith.  I think  God  has,  this  morning,  shown  me,  in  a clearer  light  than 
ever,  that  I must  begin  to  hang  upon  frames  no  more,  but  learn  to  stand 
by  a naked  faith. 

Your  unworthy  brother, 

‘'J.  Fletcher. 

^‘P.S. — Direct  to  John  Fletcher,  under  cover  to  Thomas  Hill,  Esq., 
M.P.,  at  Tern,  near  .Shrewsbury. 

To  Mrs.  Ryan, 

‘‘At  the  New  Room  in  the  Horse  Fair, 

“ Bristol.^’ 

Thus  did  these  earnest  first  Methodists  watch  over  them- 
selves with  a godly  jealousy  ; and  thus,  in  addition  to  the 
Christian  fellowship  in  their  weekly  class-meetings,  did  they 
tell  their  religious  experience  to  each  other  in  epistolary 
correspondence.  To  this  fact,  pre-eminently,  Methodism  is 
indebted  for  its  rich  biographies. 

Immediately  after  the  date  of  the  above  letter,  Fletcher 
must  have  set  out  for  Bristol,  for  Wesley  writes  : — 

“In  the  following  week’^  (the  third  week  in  October),  “I  met  Mr: 
Fletcher,  and  the  other  preachers  that  were  in  the  house  at  Bristol, 
and  spent  a considerable  time  in  close  conversation  on  the  head  of 
Christian  Perfection.  I afterwards  wrote  down  the  general  propositions 
wherein  we  all  agreed.”^ 


^ Wesley’s  Journal. 


Age  29.] 


Fletcher  and  his  Foes. 


35 


No  doubt,  these  propositions  were  substantially  the  same 
as  those  which  Wesley,  two  months  before,  had  presented 
to  his  Annual  Conference,  and  which  were  : — 

1.  That  Christian  Perfection  does  not  “exclude  all  infir- 
mities, ignorance,  and  mistake/’ 

2.  That  those  who  think  they  have  attained  Christian 
Perjfection,  in  speaking  their  own  experience,  should  “ speak 
with  great  wariness,  and  with  the  deepest  humility  and  self- 
abasement  before  God.” 

3.  That  young  preachers,  especially,  should  “ speak  of 
Perfection  in  public,  not  too  minutely  or  circumstantially, 
but  rather  in  general  and  scriptural  terms.” 

4.  That  Christian  Perfection  “ implies  the  loving  God 
with  all  the  heart,  so  that  every  evil  temper  is  destroyed, 
and  every  thought,  and  word,  and  work  springs  from,  and 
is  conducted  to  the  end  by,  the  pure  love  of  God  and  our 
neighbour.”^ 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  Fletcher,  as  usual,  was,  with  the 
family  of  Mr.  Hill,  in  London,  where  he  wrote  the  following 
to  Charles  Wesley.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  “humi- 
liation before  he  left  Tern”  was  the  imputations  cast  upon 
him  on  account  of  his  failing  to  preach  in  the  church  at 
Salop,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  letter  to  Sarah  Ryan. 

“ London,  December  12,  1758. 

My  Dear  Sir, — Before  I left  Tern,  the  Lord  gave  me  a medicine  to 
prepare  me  to  suffer  what  awaited  me  here.  This  humiliation  prepared 
me  so  well  that  I was  not  surprised  to  learn  a person  in  London  had 
spread  abroad  many  false  and  scandalous  things  of  me  during  my 
absence  ; and  that  the  minds  of  many  were  prejudiced  against  me.  In 
one  sense,  I took  a pleasure  in  thinking  that  I was  going  to  be  rejected 
by  the  children  of  God,  and  that  my  Saviour  would  become  more  dear 
under  the  idea  that,  as  in  heaven,  so  now  on  earth,  I should  have  none 
but  Him.  The  first  time  I appeared  in  the  chapel  many  were  so  offended 
that  it  was  with  difficulty  they  could  forbear  interrupting  me  in  prayer, 
to  tell  me,  ‘ Dhyszcm7z,  heal  thyself.'  I was  on  the  point  of  declining 
to  officiate,  fearing  I should  only  give  fresh  offence  ; indeed,  I should 
have  done  so  had  it  not  been  for  my  friend  Bernon,  who  pressed  me  to 
stand  firm,  representing  the  triumph  my  silence  would  give  my  enemies. 
His  reasons  appeared  to  me  so  cogent,  that,  as  your  brother  did  not 


‘‘Minutes  of  Conference”  (edition  1862),  vol.  i.,  p.  71 1. 


36 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1759- 


reject  my  assistance,  I read  prayers,  and  engaged  to  preach  sometimes 
of  a morning  ; which  I have  accordingly  continued  to  do.”  ^ 

This  is  an  unpleasant  but  amusing  episode,  and  presents 
these  first  Methodists  in  a frame  of  heart  and  mind  far  from 
commendable.  Of  course,  Fletcher  was  not  faultless.  Perhaps 
he  was  blameable  in  the  sermon  affair  at  Salop  ; but,  as 
Wesley  still  permitted  him  to  read  prayers  and  to  preach  in 
the  West  Street  chapel,  London,  it  may  be  taken  for  granted 
that  his  offence,  if  an  offence  had  been  committed,  was  a 
very  venial  one.  Some  of  the  early  Methodists  had  more 
zeal  than  charity. 

Fletcher  continued  to  officiate  in  West  Street  chapel,  and, 
whilst  doing  so,  a proposal  was  made  which  occasioned  him 
considerable  anxiety.  Nathaniel  Gilbert  inherited  an  estate 
in  Antigua,  For  some  years,  he  had  been  the  Speaker  in 
the  House  of  Assembly  of  that  island.  In  1758,  he  was  in 
England,  and  resided  at  Wandsworth.  Wesley,  on  January 
17,  1758,  preached  in  his  house,  and  met  two  of  his  negro 
servants  and  a mulatto,  who  appeared  to  be  much  awakened. 
In  the  month  of  November  following,  Wesley  baptized  the 
two  negroes.  Mr.  Gilbert  returned  to  Antigua  in  the  autumn 
of  1759,  and,  having  become  acquainted  with  Fletcher,  was 
desirous  that  he  should  go  with  him  to  the  West  Indian 
Islands,  and  preach  to  the  planters  and  their  slaves  the 
“ glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God.”  Hence  the  following 
letter  to  Charles  Wesley: — 

London,  March  22,  1759. 

My  Dear  Sir, — Since  your  departure,  I have  lived  more  than  ever 
like  a hermit.  It  seems  to  me  that  I am  an  unprofitable  weight  upon 
the  earth.  I want  to  hide  myself  from  all.  I tremble  when  the  Lord 
favours  me  with  a sight  of  myself ; I tremble  to  think  of  preaching  only 
to  dishonour  God.  To-morrow,  I preach  at  West  Street,  with  all  the 
feelings  of  Jonah.  Would  to  God  I might  be  attended  with  his  success  ! 

‘‘A  proposal  has  lately  been  made  to  me  to  accompany  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Gilbert  to  the  West  Indies.  I have  weighed  the  matter,  but,  on  one 
hand  I feel  that  I have  neither  sufficient  zeal,  nor  grace,  nor  talents  to 
expose  myself  to  the  temptations  and  labours  of  a mission  in  the  West 
Indies  ; and,  on  the  other,  I believe  that  if  God  calls  me  thither,  the  time 
is  not  yet  come.  I wish  to  be  certain  that  I am  converted  myself  before 
I leave  my  converted  brethren  to  convert  heathen  Pray  let  me  know 


Letters,  1791. 


Age  29-1  Fletcher  in  his  Hired  Chamber'' 


37 


what  you  think  of  this  business.  If  you  condemn  me  to  put  the  sea 
between  us,  the  command  would  be  a hard  one,  but  I might  possibly 
prevail  on  myself  to  give  you  that  proof  of  the  deference  I pay  to  your 
judicious  advice. 

I have  taken  possession  of  my  little  hired  chamber.  There  I have 
outward  peace,  and  I wait  for  that  which  is  within.  I was  this  morning 
with  Lady  Huntingdon,  who  salutes  you.  Our  conversation  was  deep, 
and  full  of  the  energy  of  faith  on  the  part  of  the  Countess  ; as  to  me,  I 
sat  like  Saul  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel.”  ^ 

Charles  Wesley  evidently  was  one  of  Fletcher’s  confi- 
dential advisers,  and  had  great  influence  over  him.  Fortu- 
nately, that  influence  was  not  used  to  induce  him  to  go  to 
the  West  Indies.  Had  he  gone,  in  all  probability  his  ‘‘Checks 
to  Antinomianism  ” would  never  have  been  written,  and  his 
incalculable  services  to  Wesley  and  to  Methodism  would  not 
have  been  rendered. 

From  the  concluding  part  of  Fletcher’s  letter,  it  would 
seem  that  he  was  not  now  resident  in  Mr.  Hill’s  London 
mansion,  but  had  “ a little  hired  chamber  ” of  his  own.  The 
probability  is,  that,  during  the  Easter  holidays  of  Parliament, 
Mr.  Hill  had  returned  to  Shropshire,  and  that  Fletcher  had 
remained  in  London  to  officiate  for  the  two  Wesleys  in 
West  Street  chapel  ; and,  perhaps,  in  the  Foundery,  and  in 
the  chapel  at  Spitalfields.  Twelve  months  previously,  the 
Methodist  Societies  connected  with  these  three  places  of 
worship  had  been  blessed  with  the  unspeakably  precious 
ministry  of  the  never-to-be-forgotten  Thomas  Walsh.  “Lord,” 
said  he,  when  leaving  them  on  February  19,  1758,  “Lord, 
Thou  hast  given  me  much  favour  in  the  eyes  of  this  people. 
They  show  it  by  words  and  deeds  ; their  prayers  and  tears. 
Reward  them  a thousandfold ! ” Seventeen  days  after  the 
date  of  Fletcher’s  foregoing  letter,  Thomas  Walsh  departed 
this  life  in  Dublin,  in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 
During  his  last  days  on  earth,  he  was  pre-eminently  “ in 
heaviness,”  greats  distressing  “ heaviness,  through  manifold 
temptations.”  At  length,  Satan  was  defeated,  victory  came, 
Walsh  rapturously  exclaimed,  “ He  is  come  ! He  is  come  ! 
My  Beloved  is  mine,  and  I am  His  ! His  for  ever  ! ” And, 
uttering  these  words,  he  triumphantly  expired.^  Fletcher 


Letters,  1791,  83. 


2 Morgan’s  '‘Life  of  Walsh.” 


38 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor, 


[1759- 


had  become  acquainted  with  Walsh  by  attending  his  ministry 
in  Wesley’s  London  chapels.  On  hearing  of  his  death,  he 
wrote  the  following  impassioned  letter  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

“London,  A;pril—,  1759. 

“ My  Dear  Sir, — With  a heart  bowed  down  with  grief,  and  eyes 
bathed  with  tears,  occasioned  by  our  late  heavy  loss — I mean  the  death 
of  Mr.  Walsh — I take  my  pen  to  pray  you  to  intercede  for  me.  What  ! 
that  sincere y laborious y and  zealous of  God!  Was  he  saved 
only  as  ‘ by  firOy  and  his  prayer  not  heard  till  the  twelfth  hour  was  just 
expiring  ? Oh  where  shall  I appear  I I,  w^ho  am  an  unprofitable  servant ! 
Would  to  God  my  eyes  were  fountains  of  waters  to  weep  for  my  sins  I 
Would  to  God  I might  pass  the  rest  of  my  days  in  crying,  ‘ Lordy  have 
mercy  u;pon  me  I ^ ^ All  is  vanity^ — grace,  talents,  labours, — if  we 

compare  them  with  the  mighty  stride  we  have  to  take  from  time  into 
eternity  ! Lord,  remember  me,  7tow  that  Thou  art  in  Thy  kingdom  1 

“I  have  preached  and  administered  the  sacrament  at  West  Street 
sometimes  in  the  holidays.  May  God  water  the  poor  seed  I have  sown, 
and  give  it  fruitfulness,  though  it  be  only  in  one  soul  1 But  I have  seen 
so  much  weakness  in  my  heart,  both  as  a minister  and  a Christian,  that 
I know  not  which  is  most  to  be  pitied — the  man,  the  believer,  or  the 
preacher.  Could  I at  last  be  truly  humbled,  and  continue  so  always y 
I should  esteem  myself  happy  in  making  this  discovery.  I preach 
merely  to  keep  the  chapel  open  until  God  shall  send  a workman  after 
His  own  heart,  ‘ Nos  numeri  sumuSy — this  is  almost  all  I can  say  of 
myself.  If  I did  not  know  myself  a little  better  than  I did  formerly,  I 
should  tell  you  that  I had  ceased  altogether  from  placing  any  confidence 
in  my  repentances ; but  I see  my  heart  is  so  full  of  deceit  that  I cannot 
depend  on  my  knowledge  of  myself. 

“You  are  not  well  I Are  you,  then,  going  to  leave  us,  like  poor 
Walsh  ? Ah  1 stay,  and  permit  me  to  go  first ; that,  when  my  soul 
leaves  the  body,  you  may  commend  it  to  the  mercy  of  my  Saviour.  The 
day  Mr.  Walsh  died,  the  Lord  gave  our  brethren  the  spirit  of  supplica- 
tion ; and  many  unutterable  groans  were  offered  up  for  him  at  Spital- 
fields,  where  I was.  Who  shall  render  us  the  same  kind  offices  ? Is 
not  our  hour  near  ? O,  my  God,  when  Thou  comest,  prepare  us,  and  we 
shall  be  ready  I You  owe  your  children  an  elegy  on  Mr.  Walsh’s  death, 
and  you  cannot  employ  your  poetic  talents  on  a better  subject.”  ^ 

In  this  interesting  letter,  Fletcher  prayed  for  success  at 
West  Street  Chapel,  even  if  the  success  was  limited  to  “only 
one  soul.”  His  prayer  was  answered.  At  this  period,  there 
lived,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Covent  Garden,  Owen  and 
Alice  Price,  natives  of  Dolgelly,  in  North  Wales.  One  of 


Letters,  1791,  p.  85. 


Age  29.] 


A Convert. 


39 


their  four  children  was  named  Mary,  and  was  now  fifteen 
years  of  age.  In  1750,  when  an  earthquake  alarmed  all 
London,  little  Mary  was  at  school.  The  house  in  which 
the  school  was  kept  undulated  ; several  windows  were 
broken  ; the  children  were  thrown  down  on  their  faces  ; and 
a hoarse  rumbling  noise  was  heard  for  nearly  a minute. 
Mary  resolved,  henceforth,  to  serve  her  Maker.  She  read 
the  Bible  ; she  prayed  ; but  she  was  not  happy.  Some  one 
recommended  her  to  attend  the  preaching  of  the  Methodists; 
but  she  hesitated  to  do  this,  because  the  Methodists  were 
despised,  and  her  parents  were  opposed  to  enthusiasts.  At 
length,  Mary  went  to  the  chapel  in  West  Street,  Seven  Dials. 
It  was  on  a Sunday  morning  ; and  in  those  days  Methodist 
meeting-houses  were  crowded  on  Sunday  mornings,  at  nine 
o'clock.  Mary  made  her  way  down  the  aisle  ; the  minister, 
who  was  reading  the  prayers,  she  had  never  seen  before  ; 
but  his  manner,  his  tones,  and  the  glancing  of  his  eyes,  were 
irresistibly  affecting.  The  minister  was  Fletcher,  and  there 
and  then  Mary  resolved  to  be  a Methodist.  The  preaching 
and  praying  of  Fletcher  were  greatly  blessed  to  her  soul’s 
profit  ; and,  after  a severe  struggle,  she  took  courage  to  stay, 
at  the  close  of  the  public  service,  to  receive  the  sacrament. 
At  that  period  in  the  history  of  Methodism,  no  one  was 
allowed  to  remain  who  had  not  a society  ticket,  or  a note 
from  the  officiating  minister  ; and,  accordingly,  the  faithful 
steward  told  the  Welsh  maiden  she  must  either  go  to  the  vestry 
for  a note,  or  quit  the  chapel.  She  went,  and,  with  fear  and 
trembling,  asked  Fletcher’s  permission  to  remain.  “ Come,” 
cried  he,  come,  my  dear  young  friend,  come,  and  receive 
the  memorials  of  your  dying  Lord.  If  sin  is  your  burden, 
behold  the  Crucified.  Partake  of  His  broken  body  and  shed 
blood,  and  sink  into  the  bottomless  ocean  of  His  love.”  Of 
course,  Mary  stayed.  For  three  months  afterwards,  she 
sought  the  Lord  diligently  in  the  means  of  grace  ; and  then, 
under  a sermon  preached  by  Thomas  Maxfield,  found  peace 
with  God,  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  In  1782,  Mary 
Price  married  Peter  Kruse  ; Wesley  appointed  her  to  be  the 
leader  of  a class  at  City  Road,  where  she  and  her  husband 
worshipped  ; and,  after  being  a godly  Methodist  for  fifty- 
nine  years,  she  peacefully  expired,  Joseph  Benson  preaching 


40 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1759. 


her  funeral  sermon,  and  her  corpse  being  interred  in  the 
burial-ground  behind  the  City  Road  Chapel.^ 

Another  convert  may  be  mentioned  here.  Richard  Hill 
(afterwards  Sir  Richard)  was  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Rowland 
Hill,  the  first  baronet  of  a distinguished  and  ancient  family 
Richard  was  now  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  From  child- 
hood, he  had  been  blest  with  the  strivings  of  God’s  Holy 
Spirit,  and  of  late  had  been  unutterably  anxious  about  his 
soul.  He  writes  — 

About  October,  1757,  I set  myself  to  work  with  all  the  earnestness 
of  a poor  perishing  mariner,  who  is  every  moment  in  expectation  of 
shipwreck.  I fasted,  prayed,  and  meditated.  I read  the  Scriptures, 
communicated,  and  gave  much  alms.  But  these  things  brought  no 
peace  to  my  soul ; on  the  contrary,  I saw,  what  I had  never  seen  before, 
that  all  my  works  were  mixed  with  sin  and  imperfection.  My  terrors 
increased,  insomuch  that  I could  neither  eat  nor  sleep,  and  did  not 
think  it  possible  for  me  to  live  a week.  Everybody  observed  how  ill  I 
looked,  and  I had  much  ado  to  conceal  the  straits  I was  in  from  all 
about  me.  After  having  suffered  in  this  manner  a short  time,  I made 
my  case  known  to  a clergyman ; but  all  he  said  to  me — which  indeed 
was  not  much  to  the  purpose — had  little  or  no  effect.  What  to  do  I 
knew  not.  Alas  ! I had  no  acquaintance  with  any  one  who  seemed  to 
have  the  least  experience  in  such  a case  as  mine.  Those  about  me 
showed  the  greatest  concern  for  my  situation,  and  offered  their  remedies 
for  my  relief,  such  as  company,  physic,  and  exercise,  which,  in  order  to 
oblige  them,  I complied  with ; but  my  disorder  was  not  to  be  removed 
by  these  carnal  quackeries.  What  I wanted  was  a skilful  physician 
for  my  soul ; but  where  to  find  such  an  one  I knew  not. 

recollected,  however,  that  once,  if  not  oftener,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Fletcher,  then  tutor  to  two  neighbouring  young  gentlemen,  had,  in  my 
hearing,  been  spoken  of  in  a very  disrespectful  manner,  for  things  which 
seemed  to  me  to  savour  of  a truly  Christian  spirit.  I,  therefore,  deter- 
mined to  make  my  case  known  to  him,  and,  accordingly,  wrote  him  a 
letter,  without  mentioning  my  name,  giving  him  some  account  of  my 
situation,  and  begging  him,  for  God’s  sake,  to  meet  me  that  very  night 
at  an  inn  at  Salop,  in  which  place  I then  was.  Though  Mr.  Fletcher 
had  four  or  five  miles  to  walk,  yet  he  came  punctually  to  the  appoint- 
ment, spoke  to  me  in  a very  comfortable  manner,  and  gave  me  to 
understand  that  he  had  very  different  thoughts  of  my  state  from  what  I 
had  myself.  After  our  discourse,  he  went  to  prayer  with  me,  and, 
among  the  other  petitions  that  he  put  up  in  my  behalf,  he  prayed  that  I 
might  not  trust  in  my  own  righteousness  ; an  expression  the  import  of 
which  I scarcely  knew. 


Methodist  Magazine ^ 1818,  pp.  360 — 367. 


Age  29.] 


Sir  Richard  HilL 


41 


After  my  conversation  with  Mr.  Fletcher,  I was  rather  easier ; but 
this  decrease  of  my  terrors  was  of  short  duration.  I allowed  that  the 
promises  he  would  have  me  apply  to  myself  belonged  to  the  generality 
of  sinners,  but  I thought  they  were  not  intended  for  me.  I,  therefore, 
wrote  again  to  Mr.  Fletcher,  telling  him  that,  however  others  might 
take  comfort  from  the  Scripture  promises,  I feared  none  of  them  belonged 
to  me.  I told  him  also,  that  I found  my  heart  to  be  exceeding  hard 
and  wicked ; and  that,  as  all  my  duties  proceeded  from  a dread  of 
punishment,  and  not  from  the  principles  of  faith  and  love,  and  were 
withal  so  very  defective,  I thought  it  was  impossible  God  should  ever 
accept  them.  In  answer  to  this,  the  kind  and  sympathising  Mr.  Fletcher 
immediately  wrote  me  a sweet  and  comfortable  letter,  telling  me  that 
the  perusal  of  the  account  I had  given  him  had  caused  him  to  shed 
tears  of  joy,  because  he  saw  the  Lord  had  convinced  me  of  the  in- 
sufficiency of  all  my  own  doings  to  justify  me  before  God,  and  of  the 
necessity  of  a saving  faith  in  the  blood  of  Jesus.  He  also  sent  me  ^The 
Life  and  Death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Halyburton,’  which  book  I read  wdth 
greatest  eagerness.” 

After  this,  Sir  Richard  Hill  proceeds  to  relate  how  he 
found  peace  with  God  on  February  18,  1758  ; then  how  he 
relapsed  into  doubts  and  fears,  and  lost  all  his  comfort ; and 
then  how  he  wrote  to  Fletcher  in  April,  1759,  and  said  : — 

“ My  soul  is  again  bowed  down  under  the  sense  of  the  wrath  of  God. 
The  broken  law,  with  all  its  thunderings  and  lightnings,  again  stares 
me  in  the  face.  My  hope  seems  to  be  giving  up  the  ghost,  and  I see 
nothing  before  me  but  blackness  and  darkness  for  ever.” 

’ Of  course  Fletcher  replied  to  this  letter.  Before  long.  Sir 
Richard  regained  his  lost  faith  and  peace,  and  ever  afterwards 
went  on  his  way  rejoicing.^ 

Thus,  to  an  important  extent,  was  Fletcher  used  in  the 
conversion  of  the  distinguished  man,  who,  a few  years  later, 
became  one  of  his  sturdiest  opponents  in  the  great  Calvinian 
controversy. 

In  the  middle  of  June,  1759,  M.P.,  and  his 

family  left  London  for  Shropshire,  and,  of  course,  Fletcher 
went  with  them.  Up  to  the  time  of  his  departure,  Fletcher 
continued  to  preach  in  Wesley’s  London  chapels  ; but,  in 
writing  to  Charles  Wesley,  under  the  date  of  June  i,  he 
remarks,  with  his  characteristic  humbleness  : ‘ I am  here 


Sidney’s  “Life  of  Sir  Richard  Hill,”  pp.  21-32. 


42 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1759- 


umbra  pro  corpore.  I preach  as  your  substitute  ; come,  and 
fill  worthily  an  office  of  which  I am  unworthy  ” ^ 

At  Tern  Hall,  Fletcher  again  enjoyed  his  beloved  retire- 
ment, and  gave  himself  up  to  study,  meditation,  and  prayer. 
Indeed,  his  whole  life  was  now  a life  of  prayer.  “ Wherever 
we  met,’’  says  Mr.  Vaughan,  if  we  were  alone,  his  first 
salute  was,  ‘ Do  I meet  you  praying  V And,  if  we  were 
conversing  on  any  point  of  Divinity,  he  would  often  break 
off  abruptly,  and  ask,  ‘ Where  are  our  hearts  now  Soli- 
tude, however,  is  often  invaded  by  Satan.  It  was  in  the 
garden,  where  were  only  two  human  beings,  that  the  devil 
gained  his  first  victory  on  earth  ; and  it  was  in  ‘Hhe  wilder- 
ness'' that  man’s  Redeemer  was  pre-eminently  tempted  by 
the  same  accursed  enemy.  The  following,  addressed  to 
Charles  Wesley,  is  a strange,  but  honest  and  instructive 
production. 

‘^Tern,  July  19,  1759. 

My  Dear  Sir, — Instead  of  apologizing  for  my  silence,  I will  tell 
you  that  I have  twenty  times  endeavoured  to  break  it,  but  without  effect. 
I will  simply  state  the  cause  of  it. 

This  is  the  fourth  summer  that  I have  been  brought  hither,  in  a 
peculiar  manner,  to  be  tempted  of  the  devil  in  a wilderness  ; and  I have 
improved  so  little  by  my  past  exercises,  that  I have  not  defended  myself 
better  than  in  the  first  year.  Being  arrived  here,  I began  to  spend  my 
time  as  I had  determined  ; one  part  in  prayer,  and  the  other  in  medita- 
tion on  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The  Lord  blessed  my  devotions,  and  I 
advanced  from  conquering  to  conquer,  leading  every  thought  captive 
to  the  obedience  of  Jesus  Christ,  when  it  pleased  God  to  show  me  some 
of  the  folds  of  my  heart.  As  I looked  for  nothing  less  than  such  a 
discovery,  I was  extremely  surprised  ; so  much  so  as  to  forget  Christ. 
You  may  judge  what  was  the  consequence.  A spiritual  languor  seized 
on  all  the  powers  of  my  soul,  and  I suffered  myself  to  be  carried  away 
quietly  by  a current,  with  the  rapidity  of  which  I was  unacquainted. 

Neither  doubt  nor  despair  troubled  me  for  a moment ; my  temptation 
took  another  course.  It  appeared  to  me  that  God  would  be  much  more 
glorified  by  my  damnation  than  by  my  salvation.  It  seemed  altogether 
incompatible  with  the  holiness,  the  justice,  and  the  veracity  of  the  Supreme 
Being  to  admit  so  stubborn  an  offender  into  His  presence.  I could  do 
nothing  but  be  astonished  at  the  patience  of  God  ; and  I would  willingly 
have  sung  those  verses  of  Desbaraux  if  I had  had  strength  : — 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  86. 

2 Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  29.] 


Temptation. 


43 


^ Tonne,  frappe,  il  est  temps,  rend  moi  guerre  pour  guerre, 

J’ adore,  en  perrissant,  la  raison  qui  t’aigrit/^ 

^‘Do  not  imagine,  however,  that  I was  in  a state  of  evangelical 
repentance.  No:  a man  who  repents  desires  to  be  saved;  but  I desired 
it  not.  I was  even  impatient  to  go  to  my  own  place  ; and  secretly  wished 
that  God  would  for  a moment  give  me  the  exercise  of  His  iron  sceptre 
to  break  myself  to  pieces  as  a vessel  to  dishonour.  A bitter  and  cruel 
zeal  against  myself,  and  all  the  sinners  who  were  with  me,  filled  all  my 
thoughts  and  all  my  desires.  The  devil,  who  well  knew  how  to  improve 
the  opportunity,  blew,  without  ceasing,  the  sparks  of  some  corruptions, 
which  I thought  were  extinguished,  or  at  the  point  of  being  so,  till  at 
last  the  fire  began  to  appear  without.  This  opened  my  eyes,  and  I felt 
it  was  time  to  implore  succour. 

It  is  now  eight  days  since  I endeavoured  to  pray,  but  almost  with- 
out success.  Yesterday,  however,  as  I sang  one  of  your  hymns,  the 
Lord  lifted  up  my  head,  and  commanded  me  to  face  my  enemies.  By 
His  grace  I am  already  a conqueror ; and  I doubt  not  that  I shall  soon 
be  more  than  conqueror. 

“Although  I deserve  it  not,  nevertheless  hold  up  my  hands  till  all 
these  Amalekites  be  put  to  flight.  “ I am,  etc., 

J.  Fletcher.”  2 

Certainly  this  was  strange,  perhaps  unparalleled  experi- 
ence. Paul  wrote,  ‘‘  I could  wish  that  myself  were  accursed 
from  Christ  for  my  brethreit,  my  kins7nen  according  to  the 
flesh!'  John  Pdetcher  seemed  to  wish  for  this,  that  God  might 
be  glorified,  ‘‘  K fit  of  melancholy,'’  says  the  reader;  ‘'almost 
insanity.”  That,  however,  is  sooner  said  than  proved.  Fletcher 
had  a great  work  to  do,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  his  Divine 
Master,  temptations  helped  to  prepare  him  for  it.  Weeks 
after  the  date  of  the  foregoing  letter,  he  continued  to  write 
bitter  things  against  himself.  The  following  letter  has  not 
before  been  published  ; it  was  addressed  “ to  Mrs.  Ryan,  at 
the  Room  in  the  Horse-Fair,  Bristol  — 

“Tern,  Seftember^,  i759* 

“ My  Sister, — I have  often  been  with  you  in  spirit,  desiring  to  follow 
you  as  you  follow  Christ;  and  I trust  you  have  put  up  some  petitions 
for  me,  that  I may  not  run  in  vain,  but  may  at  last  apprehend  that  for 
which  I am  apprehended. 

“ I have  been  taught  many  lessons — by  man,  self,  and  Satan — since 
I saw  you,  but  doubt  I am  not  much  nearer  wisdom,  unless  it  is  in  this 

^ “ Thunder!  strike  ! it  is  time  ; render  me  war  for  war  I 
In  perishing,  I adore  the  reason  which  incenses  Thee.” 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  88. 


44 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


1 759- 


point — that  I am  more  foolish  in  my  own  eyes.  I groan  to  be  so  often 
diverted  from  the  pursuit  of  the  one  thing  needful ; but  unfaithfulness, 
levity,  unbelief,  taint  those  groans,  and  make  me  question  their  sincerity 
and  mine.  Will  you  try  once  more  to  spur  me  out  of  my  baitings  ? 
Send  me  an  account  of  the  struggles  you  went  through  before  you  found 
rest.  What  degree  of  joy,  fear,  hope,  sorrow,  doubting,  fervency  or 
coldness  of  desire  in  soul  and  body — waking,  working,  and  sleeping  ? 

Remember  me  to  Miss  Furley.^  Were  I less  averse  to  writing,  I 
would  have  written  to  her,  to  beg  her  not  to  faint  at  any  time,  but  be 
a zealous  follower  of  those  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the 
promises  ; but  I trust  she  does  not  want  the  advice  as  often  as  I do. 
Let  me  know  how  she  does  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  flesh,  and  desire  her 
to  remember  me  at  the  throne  of  grace.  Adieu. 

John  Fletcher.” 

Charles  Wesley  proposed  that,  during  the  ensuing  Parlia- 
mentary session,  Fletcher  should  be  paid  for  his  services  in 
the  London  chapels.  In  the  same  spirit  of  self-abasement 
as  is  displayed  in  the  foregoing  letters,  Fletcher  replied  as 
follows  : — 


‘‘  September  14,  1759. 

‘‘  My  Dear  Sir, — A few  days  ago,  the  Lord  gave  me  two  or  three 
lessons  on  poverty  of  spirit,  but,  alas  ! how  have  I forgotten  them  ! I 
saw,  I felt,  that  I was  entirely  void  of  wisdom  and  virtue.  I was  ashamed 
of  myself ; and  I could  say,  with  a degree  of  feeling  which  I cannot 
describe,  nilhabeo;  sum  nil ; in  Quiver o serpoi^  I could 

then  say  what  Gregory  Lopez  was  enabled  to  say  at  all  times,  ‘ There 
is  no  man  of  whom  I have  not  a better  opinion  than  of  myself.’  I could 
have  placed  myself  under  the  feet  of  the  most  atrocious  sinner,  and  have 
acknowledged  him  for  a saint  in  comparison  of  myself.  If  ever  I am 
humble  and  patient,  if  ever  I enjoy  solid  peace  of  mind,  it  must  be  in 
this  very  spirit.  Ah  ! why  do  I not  find  these  virtues  ? Because  I am 


1 Dorothy  Furley,  the  youngest  daughter  of  John  Furley,  a Dutch  and 
Turkey  merchant,  was  born  at  West  Ham  in  1730.  She  was  converted 
in  early  life,  and  became  acquainted  with  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon, 
Miss  Bosanquet,  the  Wesley  brothers.  Miss  Johnson,  Mrs.  Ryan,  and 
many  others  of  the  first  Methodists,  by  whom  she  was  held  in  high 
esteem.  In  1764,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Downs,  one  of  Wesley’s  local 
preachers  in  London.  After  her  husband’s  death,  she  removed  to  Leeds, 
and  died  July  28,  1807.  The  written  directions  respecting  her  funeral 
concluded  with  these  words : Glory,  glory,  glory  be  to  my  gracious  God 

and  Saviour ! I live  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith  and  hope  that  I shall 
see  my  Saviour’s  face,  and  behold  that  glory  which  He  had  with  the 
Father  before  all  worlds,  but  which  He  left  for  my  sake.  To  Him  I owe 
all  my  salvation,  here  and  to  all  eternity.  To  Him,  with  the  Father 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  all  honour,  dominion,  and  majesty,  now  and 
through  all  ages ! Amen.  Hallelujah ! Amen. ’ ’ — Methodist  Magazme^ 
1818,  p.  222. 


Age  30.] 


Gratuitous  Services. 


45 


filled  with  self-sufficiency , which  blinds  me  and  hinders  me  from  doing 
justice  to  my  own  demerits.  O pray  that  the  spirit  of  Jesus  may  remove 
these  scales  from  my  eyes  for  ever^  and  compel  me  to  retire  into  my 
own  nothingness. 

To  what  a monstrous  idea  had  you  well-nigh  given  birth.  What ! 
the  labours  of  my  ministry  under  you  deserve  a salary  ! I,  who  have 
done  nothing  but  dishonour  God  hitherto,  and  am  not  in  a condition 
to  do  anything  else  for  the  future  ! If,  then,  I am  permitted  to  stand  in 
the  courts  of  the  Lord’s  house,  is  it  not  for  me  to  make  an  acknowledg- 
ment, rather  than  to  receive  one  ? If  I ever  receive  anything  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  it  shall  be  only  as  an  indigent  mendicant  receives 
alms,  without  which  he  would  perish.  Such  were  some  of  the  thoughts 
which  passed  through  my  mind  with  regard  to  the  proposal  you  made 
to  me  in  London  ; and  I doubt  whether  my  own  vanity,  or  your  good- 
ness, will  be  able  to  efface  the  impressions  they  have  left. 

^‘I  have  great  need  of  your  advice  relative  to  the  letters  which  I 
receive  from  my  relations,  who  unite  in  their  invitations  to  me  to  return 
to  my  own  country.  One  says,  to  settle  my  affairs  there  ; another,  to 
preach  there  ; a third,  to  assist  him  to  die.  They  press  me  to  declare 
whether  I renounce  my  family,  and  the  demands  I have  upon  it.  My 
mother,  in  the  strongest  terms,  commands  me  at  least  to  go  and  see 
her.  What  answer  shall  I make  ? If  she  thought  as  you  do,  I should 
write  to  her,  ‘ Ubi  Christiani,  ibi  atria  ; ’ ' my  mother,  my  brethren, 
my  sisters,  are  those  who  do  the  will  of  my  heavenly  Father ; ’ but  she 
is  not  in  a state  of  mind  to  digest  such  an  answer.  I have  no  inclination 
to  yield  to  their  desires,  which  appear  to  me  merely  natural,  for  I should 
lose  precious  time  and  incur  expense.  My  presence  is  not  absolutely 
necessary  to  my  concerns ; and  it  is  more  probable  that  my  relations 
will  pervert  me  to  vanity  and  interest,  than  that  I shall  convert  them  to 
genuine  Christianity.  Lastly,  I should  have  no  opportunity  to  exercise 
my  ministry.  Our  Swiss  ministers,  who  preach  only  once  a week,  would 
not  look  upon  me  with  a more  favourable  eye  than  the  ministers  here, 
and  would  only  cause  me  either  to  be  laid  in  prison  or  to  be  immediately 
banished  from  the  country. 

Permit  me  to  thank  you  for  the  sentence  from  Kempis,  with  which 
you  close  your  letter,  by  returning  you  another.  ' You  run  no  risk  in 
considering  yourself  as  the  wickedest  of  men,  but  you  are  in  danger  if 
you  prefer  yourself  to  any  one.’  ” ^ 

A fortnight  later,  Fletcher  wrote  again  to  Charles  Wesley 
as  follows  : — 

^‘Tern,  September  29,  1759. 

‘'What  you  say  about  reducing  a mother  to  despair  has  made  me 
recollect,  what  I have  often  thought,  that  the  particular  fault  of  the 
Swiss  is  to  be  without  natural  affection.  With  respect  to  that  prefer- 


Letters,  1791,  p.  91. 


46 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1759- 


ence  which  my  mother  shows  me  above  her  other  children,  I see  clearly  I 
am  indebted  for  almost  all  the  affection  she  expresses  for  me  in  her  letters 
to  my  absence  from  her,  wj;iich  hinders  her  from  seeing  my  faults. 
Nevertheless,  I reproach  myself  severely,  that  I cannot  interest  myself 
in  her  welfare  as  much  as  I did  in  that  of  my  deceased  father.  I am 
astonished  at  the  difference.  I believe  the  time  is  not  yet  come  when 
my  presence  may  be  of  service  to  her ; and  I flatter  myself  she  will  not 
be  shocked  at  my  refusal,  which  I have  softened  as  much  as  I could. 

I fear  you  did  not  rightly  understand  what  I wrote  about  the  pro- 
posal you  made  me  at  London.  So  far  from  making  conditions,  I feel 
myself  unworthy  of  receiving  them.  I trouble  myself  with  no  temporal 
things  ; my  only  fear  is  that  of  having  too  much,  rather  than  too  little, 
of  the  necessaries  of  life.  I am  weary  of  abundance.  I could  wish 
myself  to  be  poor  with  my  Saviour.  Those  whom  He  hath  chosen  to  be 
rich  in  faith,  appear  to  me  objects  of  envy  in  the  midst  of  their  wants.’ ^ ^ 

Fletcher  wanted  no  salary  for  preaching  in  Methodist 
chapels  ; and,  for  the  present,  he  refused  to  return  to  Swit- 
zerland. His  reason  for  the  latter  might  have  been  more 
filially  expressed  ; but  no  one  will  doubt  his  sincerity,  or 
that  his  motives  were  not  pure.  The  next  letter,  written 
two  days  later,  was  addressed  to  Sarah  Ryan,  Wesley's 
housekeeper  at  Bristol,  and  to  her  friend,  Dorothy  Furley. 
It  is  too  full  of  eloquent  piety  to  be  abridged. 

October  i,  1759. 

''Dear  Sisters, — I have  been  putting  off  writing  to  you,  lest  the 
action  of  writing  should  divert  my  soul  from  the  awful  and  delightful 
worship  it  is  engaged  in.  But  I now  conclude  I shall  be  no  loser,  if  I 
invite  you  to  love  Him  my  soul  loveth  ; to  dread  Him  my  soul  dreadeth ; 
to  adore  Him  my  soul  adore th. 

" Sink  with  me  before  the  throne  of  grace  ; and,  while  the  cherubim 
veil  their  faces,  and  cry  out  in  tender  fear  and  exquisite  trembling, 

' Holy  ! Holy  ! Holy  ! ’ let  us  put  our  mouths  in  the  dust,  and  echo  back 
the  solemn  sound,  ' Holy  ! Holy  ! Holy  ! ’ Let  us  plunge  ourselves  in 
that  ocean  of  purity.  Let  us  try  to  fathom  the  depths  of  Divine  mercy ; 
and,  convinced  of  the  impossibility  of  such  an  attempt,  let  us  lose 
ourselves  in  them.  Let  us  be  comprehended  by  God,  if' we  cannot 
comprehend  Him.  Let  us  be  supremely  happy  in  God.  Let  the  intense- 
ness of  our  happiness  border  upon  mdsery,  because  we  can  make  Him 
no  return.  Let  our  head  become  waters,  and  our  eyes  a fountain  of 
tears, — tears  of  humble  repentance,  of  solemn  joy,  of  silent  admiration, 
of  exalted  adoration,  of  raptured  desires,  of  inflamed  transports,  of 
speechless  awe.  My  God  and  my  all ! Your  God  and  your  all  ! Our 
God  and  our  all ! Praise  Him  ! With  our  souls  blended  into  one  by 


Letters,  1791,  p.  95. 


*Age  30.] 


Fletcher  Visits  Lady  Huntingdon. 


47 


Divine  love,  let  us  with  one  mouth  glorify  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ; our  Father,  who  is  over  all,  through  all,  and  in  us  all. 

“I  charge  you  before  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  giveth  life  and  more 
abundant  life  ; I entreat  you  by  all  the  actings  of  faith,  the  stretchings 
of  hope,  the  flames  of  love  you  have  ever  felt,  sink  to  greater  depths  of 
self-abasing  repentance  ; rise  to  greater  heights  of  Christ-exalting  joy. 
And  let  Him,  who  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that 
you  can  ask  or  think,  carry  on,  and  fulfil  in  you  the  work  of  faith  with 
power ; with  that  power  whereby  He  subdueth  all  things  unto  Himself. 
Be  steadfast  in  hope,  immovable  in  patience  and  love,  always  abounding 
in  the  outward  and  inward  labour  of  love  ; and  receive  the  end  of  your 
faith,  the  salvation  of  your  souls. 

I am,  dear  sisters,  your  well-wisher, 

‘‘John  Fletcher.'’^ 

Mr.  Benson  inclines  to  think  that  it  was  at  this  period 
that  Fletcher  first  preached  at  Madeley.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Chambers  was  the  vicar,  and  frequently  desired  the  tutor  of 
Mr.  Hill’s  sons  to  assist  him  in  his  ministerial  duties.  Tern 
Hall  was  ten  miles  from  Madeley,  and  one  of  Mr.  Hill’s 
grooms  was  ordered  to  have  a horse  ready  for  Fletcher’s  use 
every  Sunday  morning.  So  great,  however,  was  his  aversion 
to  giving  trouble  to  any  one,  that,  if  the  groom  did  not 
awake  at  the  proper  time,  he  seldom  would  suffer  him  to  be 
called  ; but  prepared  the  horse  for  himself.^ 

Parliament  was  opened  on  November  13,  when,  as  usual, 
Mr.  Hill  and  his  family  repaired  to  London.  Two  days 
afterwards,  Fletcher  wrote  the  following  to  Charles  Wesley: — 

“London,  November  15,  1759. 

“ My  Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  was  not  put  into  my  hands  till  eight 
days  after  my  arrival  in  London.  I carried  the  enclosed  to  its  address, 
and  passed  three  hours  with  a modem  prodigy, — an  humble  and ;pious 
countess.  I went  with  trembling,  and  in  obedience  to  your  orders  ; but 
I soon  perceived  a little  of  what  the  disciples  felt  when  Christ  said  to 
them,  ‘ It  is  /,  be  not  afraid.' 

“ Her  ladyship  proposed  to  me  something  of  what  you  hinted  to  me 
in  your  garden, — namely,  to  celebrate  the  communion  sometimes  at  her 
house  of  a morning,  and  to  preach  when  occasion  offered, — in  such  a 
manner,  however,  as  not  to  restrain  my  liberty,  nor  to  prevent  me  assist- 
ing you,  or  preaching  to  the  French  refugees  ; and  that  only  till  Provi- 
dence should  clearly  point  out  the  path  in  which  I should  go.  Charity, 
politeness,  and  reason  accompanied  her  offer ; and  I confess,  in  spite 

^ “Thirteen  Original  Letters,”  by  Rev.  John  Fletcher,  1791,  p.  9. 

2 Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 


48 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1759- 


of  the  resolution,  which  I had  almost  absolutely  formed,  to  fly  the  houses 
of  the  great,  without  even  the  exception  of  the  Countess’s,  I found 
myself  so  greatly  changed,  that  I should  have  accepted,  on  the  spot, 
her  ladyship’s  proposal;  but  my  engagement  wuth  you  withheld  me; 
and,  after  thanking  her,  I said,  when  I had  reflected  on  her  obliging 
offer,  I would  do  myself  the  honour  of  waiting  upon  her  again. 

Nevertheless,  two  difficulties  stand  in  my  way.  Will  it  be  consistent 
with  the  poverty  of  spirit,  which  I seek  ? Can  I accept  an  office  for 
which  I have  such  small  talents  ? And  shall  I not  dishonour  the  cause 
of  God,  by  stammering  out  the  mysteries  of  the  Gospel  in  a place  where 
the  most  approved  ministers  of  the  Lord  have  preached  with  so  much 
power,  and  so  much  success  ? What  think  you  ? 

I give  myself  up  to  your  judicious  counsels.  I feel  myself  unworthy 
of  them  ; much  more  still  of  the  appellation  of  friend,  with  which  you 
honour  me.  You  are  an  indulgent  father  to  me,  and  the  name  of  son 
suits  me  better  than  that  of  brother.''^ 

It  hardly  need  be  added,  that  the  modern  prodigy,’'  the 
“humble  and  pious  Countess,”  was  Lady  Huntingdon,  to 
whom  Wesley  had  introduced  Fletcher  nearly  two  years 
before.  Her  ladyship’s  proposal  really  amounted  to  this,  that, 
without  at  all  interfering  with  his  preaching  for  the  Wesley 
brothers,  and  with  his  labours  among  the  French  prisoners 
and  refugees,  Fletcher  should  act  as  one  of  her  domestic 
chaplains.  Charles  Wesley’s  reply  to  Fletcher’s  inquiries 
has  not  been  preserved  ; but  there  can  be  no  doubt  it  was 
favourable,  for  such  was  Fletcher’s  profound  respect  for 
Methodism’s  poet,  that,  if  he  had,  in  the  least,  disapproved 
of  the  Countess’s  offer,  it  would  most  certainly  have  been 
declined.  “ I am  so  assured  of  your  salvation,”  wrote 
Fletcher,  in  the  letter  from  which  the  foregoing  is  extracted, 
“ that  I ask  no  other  place  in  heaven,  than  that  I may  have 
at  your  feet.  I doubt  even  if  Paradise  would  be  Paradise 
to  me,  unless  it  were  shared  with  you.”  This  language  was 
extravagant ; but  it  shows  the  high  admiration  in  which 
Fletcher,  at  this  time,  held  one  who  might  be  justly  called 
his  dearest  and  most  confidential  friend.  The  proposal  of 
the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  was  accepted  ; and  Fletcher 
opened  his  commission  to  the  great  and  honourable  in  her 
ladyship’s  drawing-room,  in  the  lowly  spirit  of  St.  Paul, 
“ Unto  me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  98. 


Age  30.] 


Fletcher's  First  Published  Sermon. 


49 


grace  given,  that  I should  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
Christ.”  During  the  ensuing  winter,  he  preached  in  Wesley’s 
London  chapels,  as  usual  ; and,  alternately  with  the  Wesley 
brothers  and  other  clergymen,  he  preached  in  the  houses  of 
Lady  Huntingdon,  Lady  Gertrude  Hotham,  and  Lady  Frances 
Shirley,  generally  once,  and  frequently  twice,  in  every  week.^ 
The  French  prisoners  and  refugees  have  been  mentioned. 
Unfortunately,  there  are  no  details  preserved  of  the  extent  and 
success  of  Fletcher’s  labours  among  those  pitiable  sojourners  ; 
but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  for  their  instruction 
and  benefit,  that  Fletcher,  in  1 759,  published  a sermon  in 
the  French  language,  entitled,  ‘'Discours  sur  la  Regeneration. 
Imprime  a Londre  I’an  1759.’’  i2mo,  48  pp.  His  sermon 
is  founded  upon  John  iii.  3,  “Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
him.  Verily,  verily,  I say  unto  thee.  Except  a man  be  born 
again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God.”  At  the  end  of 
the  discourse  are  two  short  poems,  in  French,  with  the  titles, 
“Sentiments  d’une  Ame  que  la  Grace  regenere;”  and  “ Le 
Bonheur  de  I’homme  Regenere.”  The  subject  and  substance 
of  the  whole  may  be  gathered  from  the  brief  preface,  of 
which  the  following  is  a translation  : — 

Some  prejudiced  persons  having  caused  it  to  be  reported  that  I 
preach  a dangerous  doctrine,  you  will  be  able  to  judge  as  to  that,  with 
a knowledge  of  the  case,  by  reading  this  discourse  on  Regeneration. 

beg  you  to  read,  in  addition,  some  short  pamphlets  which  have 
just  appeared,  and  which  are  entitled,  ‘The  Nature  and  Design  of 
Christianity ; ’ ^ ‘Salvation  by  Faith ; ’ ^ and  ‘Awake  thou  that  sleepest.’ 

I recommend  these  three  works  for  your  examination,  because,  although 
I am  not  the  author  of  them,  they  contain  the  sentiments  which  I wish 
to  see  engraven  in  our  hearts,  as  they  were  in  the  heart  of  St.  Paul. 

“If  you  find  here  the  religion  of  Christ,  give  the  glory  to  God,  and 
let  it  be  found  in  the  depths  of  your  own  souls  ; but,  if  you  find  anything 
contrary  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  the  purity  of  Christianity,  I pray 
you,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  point  it  out  to  me.  Conduct  so  kind 
will  sensibly  oblige  your  servant  in  Christ, 

“J.  De  la  Flechere.” 


^ “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  233. 

2 An  extract  from  Law’s  “ Christian  Perfection,”  first  published  by 
Wesley  in  1740  ; the  sixth  edition  appeared  in  1759. 

^ Wesley’s  “ Sermon  on  Salvation  by  Faith,”  first  published  in  1738  ; 
and  a tenth  edition  in  1756. 

Charles  Wesley’s  well-known  sermon,  preached  before  the  University 
of  Oxford,  on  April  4,  1742. 


4 


50 


Wesley* s Designated  Successor. 


[1760. 


With  the  exception  of  a tract,  entitled  ‘‘  A Christmas  Box 
for  Journeymen  and  Apprentices,''  which,  Wesley  says,  was 
printed  and  circulated  in  1758,  this  ‘‘Discours  sur  la  Re- 
generation " was  Fletcher's  earliest  publication. 

During  the  first  three  months  of  1760,  Fletcher  enjoyed 
sweet  intercourse  with  his  beloved  and  confidential  friend, 
Charles  Wesley.  The  latter  relates  that  he  forgot  his  birth- 
day till  Fletcher's  prayer  put  him  in  mind  of  it.  He  and 
Fletcher  had  conversations  respecting  the  doctrine  of  assur- 
ance, which  they  both  held,  but  which  they  thought  had 
not  been  sufficiently  guarded.  In  a letter,  dated  March  16, 
1760,  Charles  observes, — “God  has  remarkably  owned  the 
Word  since  Mr.  Fletcher  and  I changed  our  manner  of 
preaching  it."  ^ 

At  this  period,  the  Methodists  of  London  took  a pro- 
found interest  in  the  fate  of  Earl  Ferrars,  brother  of  the 
Rev.  Walter  Shirley,  and  cousin  of  the  Countess  of  Hunting- 
don. This  profligate  nobleman  had  murdered  his  steward, 
and  was  now  awaiting  his  trial  by  the  Peers  of  England. 
The  unhappy  culprit  was  executed  on  the  5th  of  May. 
Many  were  the  prayers  offered  for  his  conversion.  A day 
of  fasting  was  kept  at  the  Foundery. 

Yesterday,”  wrote  Charles  Wesley,  on  April  4,  ^‘many  met  me  in 
the  chapel  (West-street),  to  join  in  prayer  for  the  murderer.  Till  4 p.m. 
we  continued  looking  upon  Him  whom  we  had  pierced.  I never  remem- 
ber a more  solemn  season.  I carried  Mr.  Shirley  and  his  sister  to  Mrs. 
Herritage's,  where  Mr.  Fletcher  helped  us  to  pray  for  poor  Barabbas, 
as  he  calls  him.  Again  the  spirit  made  intercession  for  him  with  groans 
unutterable.  Our  watch-night  lasted  from  seven  to  half-past  ten.  My 
text  was,  ‘ Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by  ? Behold,  and  see 
if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow,’  etc.  (Lamentations  of 
Jeremiah  i.  12).  The  Word  was  sent,  I believe,  to  many  hearts.  Mr. 
Fletcher  seconded  it.  We  both  prayed  after  God,  particularly  for  the 
criminal.  The  chapel  was  excessively  crowded,  and  therefore  very  hot. 
Miss  Shirley  carried  me  to  my  lodgings.  It  was  past  eleven  before  John 
Fletcher  and  I got  to  rest.”  ^ 

The  last  words  of  this  extract  almost  indicate  that  Charles 
Wesley  and  Fletcher  were  living  together,  in  the  same  house ; 
but,  be  that  as  it  may,  there  cannot  be  a doubt  of  the  warm 
friendship  that  existed  between  them. 


C.  Wesley’s  Journal,  vol.  ii.,  p.  227.  2 vol.  ii.,  p.  231. 


Age  30.] 


Glorious  Services  at  Everton, 


51 


Besides  preaching  in  Wesley’s  London  chapels,  Fletcher 
occasionally  preached  for  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  at 
Brighton/  He  also  visited  Berridge  at  Everton.  Hence 
the  following,  addressed  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

''Dunstable,  March  i,  1760. 

" My  Dear  Sir, — I have  had  a pleasant  journey  as  to  my  body, 
but  an  unhappy  one  for  my  soul.  Everything  required  that  I should 
cry  without  ceasing,  ^ Lord ^ he  merciful  to  me  a sinner  .r  but,  alas  ! 

I have  not  done  so.  The  fine  weather  invites  me  to  execute  a design, 

I had  half  formed,  of  making  a forced  march  to  spend  next  Sunday  at 
Everton,  Mr.  Berridge’ s parish.  May  the  voice  of  the  Lord  there  be 
heard  by  a poor  child  of  Adam,  who,  like  him,  is  still  behind  the  trees 
of  his  stupidity  and  impenitence  ! 

" If  I do  not  lose  myself  across  the  fields  before  I get  there,  and  if 
the  Lord  is  pleased  to  grant  me  the  spirit  of  supplication,  I will  pray 
for  you,  until  I can  again  pray  with  you.  Don’t  forget  me,  I beseech 
you.  I would  fain  be  with  you  on  those  solemn  occasions,  when  a 
thousand  voices  are  raised  to  heaven  to  obtain  those  graces  which  I have 
not ; but  God’s  will  be  done  ! 

" Don’t  forget  to  present  my  respects  to  the  Countess.  If  I continue 
any  time  at  Everton,  I shall  take  the  liberty  of  giving  her  some  account 
of  the  work  of  God  in  these  parts ; if  not,  I will  give  it  her  in  person. 
Adieu.  "John  Fletcher.”^ 

Strange  scenes  had  recently  been  witnessed  at  Everton 
and  in  the  surrounding  country ; and  it  is  not  surprising 
that  Fletcher  was  desirous  of  seeing  what  the  hand  of  God 
had  wrought.  His  visit  was  a memorable  one.  On  arriving, 
he  introduced  himself  to  Berridge  as  a new  convert,  who 
had  taken  the  liberty  to  wait  upon  him  for  the  benefit  of 
his  instruction  and  advice.”  Berridge,  perceiving  he  was  a 
foreigner,  asked  what  countryman  he  was. 

A Swiss,  from  the  canton  of  Berne,”  was  the  reply. 

‘‘  From  Berne ! then  probably  you  can  give  me  some 
account  of  a young  countryman  of  yours,  John  Fletcher, 
who  has  lately  preached  a few  times  for  the  Messrs.  Wesley, 
and  of  whose  talents,  learning,  and  piety,  they  both  speak 
in  terms  of  high  eulogy.  Do  you  know  him  V 

'‘Yes,  sir,  I know  him  intimately;  and  did  those  gentle- 
men know  him  as  well  they  would  not  speak  so  highly  of 


* " Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  233. 
^ Letters,  1791,  p.  100. 


52 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[176c. 


him.  He  is  more  obliged  to  their  partial  friendship  than  to 
his  own  merits.” 

“You  surprise  me,”  said  Berridge. 

“I  have  the  best  reason  for  speaking  of  John  Fletcher  as 
I do.  I am  John  Fletcher.” 

“If  you  be  John  Fletcher,”  replied  Berridge,  “you  must 
take  my  pulpit  to-morrow.”  ^ 

Thus  began  Fletcher’s  acquaintance  with  Berridge.  No 
doubt  he  preached  at  Everton,  for  strong-willed  Berridge 
was  wont  to  have  his  way.  It  is  probable  that  Fletcher 
communicated  what  he  had  seen  and  heard  to  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon.  At  all  events,  it  is  said,  her  ladyship, 
accompanied  by  Martin  Madan  and  Henry  Venn,  hastened 
to  join  him  there.  On  the  morning  after  their  arrival,  at 
seven  o’clock,  Berridge  preached  to  an  enormous  congre- 
gation, assembled  in  a field  near  his  church.  At  eleven, 
in  the  church,  Mr.  Hicks  read  prayers,  and  Venn  explained 
the  “joy  that  is  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.” 
In  the  afternoon,  to  an  amazing  multitude  gathered  from  all 
parts  of  the  surrounding  country,  Martin  Madan  cried,  in  the 
open  air,  “ If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me  and 
drink.”  Next  day,  in  the  morning,  Fletcher  read  prayers, 
and  Madan  preached  from  “Ye  must  be  born  again,”  the 
church  being  crowded  to  excess,  and  the  windows  filled 
within  and  without.  In  the  afternoon,  the  prayers  were  read 
by  Berridge,  and  Venn  enforced  the  words,  “This  is  life 
eternal,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  Thou  hast  sent.”  Large  numbers  being  unable  to 
gain  admission  to  the  church,  Berridge  addressed  those  out- 
side from,  “ Seek  the  Lord  while  He  may  be  found  ; call 
upon  Him  while  He  is  near.”  The  third  day’s  services  were 
even  more  remarkable  than  the  previous  ones.  It  was  cal- 
culated that,  in  the  small  village  of  Everton,  ten  thousand 
persons  were  assembled  to  hear  the  Word  of  God,  and  to 
join  in  His  holy  services.  The  number  is  almost  incredible  ; 
and  picturesque  must  have  been  the  travelling  tribes  as  they 
journeyed  to  this  “ hill  of  Zion.”  Venn  preached,  of  course, 
in  the  open  air,  from  the  text,  “ The  harvest  is  past,  the 


* Cox’s  ^'Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  25. 


Age  30.] 


Glorious  Services  at  Everton, 


53 


summer  is  ended,  and  we  are  not  saved/’  The  huge  con- 
gregation was  deeply  affected,  and  several  persons,  both  men 
and  women,  fell  to  the  ground  and  wept  bitterly.  The 
afternoon  congregation  was  even  greater  than  that  in  the 
morning.  At  night,  Berridge  was  the  preacher,  and  selected 
as  his  text,  “ Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world.”  Towards  the  close  of  his  sermon, 
five  persons. sunk  down  as  dead;”  and  others  cried  with 
a loud  and  bitter  cry,  “What  must  we  do  to  be  saved 
Berridge  concluded  his  discourse ; and  these  memorable 
three  days’  services  were  finished  by  the  assembled  thou- 
sands, the  Countess,  and  the  five  clergymen,  all  joining  in 
singing  Wesley’s  noble  hymn, — 

'‘Arm  of  the  Lord,  awake,  awake  ! 

Thine  own  immortal  strength  put  on  ! 

With  terror  clothed,  hell’s  kingdom  shake, 

And  cast  Thy  foes  with  fury  down  ! 

"As  in  the  ancient  days  appear ! 

The  sacred  annals  speak  Thy  fame  : 

Be  now  omnipotently  near. 

To  endless  ages  still  the  same. 

" Thy  arm.  Lord,  is  not  shortened  now. 

It  wants  not  now  the  power  to  save ; 

Still  present  with  Thy  people.  Thou 
Bear’st  them  through  life’s  disparted  wave. 

" By  death  and  hell  pursued  in  vain. 

To  Thee  the  ransomed  seed  shall  come. 

Shouting  their  heavenly  Sion  gain. 

And  pass  through  death  triumphant  home. 

" The  pain  of  life  shall  there  be  o’er. 

The  anguish  and  distracting  care, 

There  sighing  grief  shall  weep  no  more. 

And  sin  shall  never  enter  there. 

"Where  pure,  essential  joy  is  found. 

The  Lord’s  redeemed  their  heads  shall  raise. 

With  everlasting  gladness  crowned. 

And  filled  with  love,  and  lost  in  praise.”  ^ 

What  pen  can  adequately  describe  this  grand  outburst  of 
scriptural  faith  and  Christian  exultation  ? It  was  a scene 


‘ “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  400. 


54 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1760. 


that  has  not  oft  been  equalled  ; and,  no  doubt,  helped  to 
increasingly  qualify  Fletcher  for  the  great  work  that  awaited 
him. 

Fletcher's  duties  a;s  a tutor  were  now  ended.  The  two 
sons  of  Mr.  Hill  had  become  undergraduates  at  Cambridge. 
Fletcher  seems  to  have  returned  to  Tern  Hall  ; but,  as  a 
new  Parliament  was  about  to  be  elected,  Mr.  Hill  objected 
to  the  ordained  tutor  preaching  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Hall,  because  his  well-known  Methodist  proclivities  might 
raise  a stumbling-block  at  the  polling-booths.  Hence  the 
following  extract  from  a letter  addressed  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  : — 

‘‘Tern,  Se^ptember  6^  1760. 

“The  fear  Mr.  Hill  has,  that  I should  lessen  his  interest  at  Shrewsbury 
at  the  next  election, — the  shyness  of  the  neighbouring  clergy, — and  the 
want  I feel  of  an  ordination  from  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  my 
soul,  will  probably  prevent  my  preaching  at  all  in  the  country.  O may 
the  Spirit  of  God  preach  the  Gospel  to  my  heart ! 

“ Generous  as  you  are,  Madam,  I believe  you  would  have  saved  me 
the  shame  of  receiving  the  present  you  made  me  at  Paddington,  had  you 
foreseen  the  uneasy  thoughts  it  raised  in  my  heart.  ‘Is  not  this  making 
godliness  a gain  ? Can  I in  conscience  receive  what  is  devoted  to  the 
poor  when  I am  not  in  actual  want  ? ’ I am  not  ashamed  of  living  upon 
charity,  but  to  receive  it,  without  being  an  immediate  object  of  charity, 
gives  me  more  uneasiness  than  want  could  possibly  do.  And  now  I am 
deprived,  for  many  months,  of  the  unspeakable  advantage  of  living  upon 
Providence,  and  must  live  upon  a stock,  as  well  as  the  rich  of  this  world! 
Is  not  this  a lesson  ? And  does  not  your  generosity,  Madam,  bid  me 
look  to  Jesus  ior  poverty  of  spirit,  without  which  all  outward  acts  are 
nothing  but  pride,  sin,  misery,  and  lies  ? 

“ I am,  with  gratitude  and  shame,  your  ladyship's  unworthy  servant, 

“J.  Fletcher."’ 

Fletcher  was  without  employment.  What  was  the  best 
course  to  take  } He  might  have  permanently  united  himself  to 
the  Wesley  brothers  ; or  he  might  have  devoted  himself  to  the 
congregations  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon.  But  another 
path  was  marked  out  for  him  by  an  unerring  Providence. 
He  had  been  of  great  service  to  the  sons  of  Mr.  Hill  ; and 
Mr.  Hill  was  desirous  of  promoting  his  preferment.  The 
living  of  Dunham,  in  Cheshire,  was  now  vacant,  and  Mr.  Hill 


1 “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,"  vol.  i.,  p,  234, 


Age  31.] 


Choosing  a Benejice. 


55 


informed  Fletcher  that  it  was  at  his  service.  The  parish/’ 
said  he,  “ is  small,  the  duty  light,  the  income  good  (^^^400 
per  annum),  and  it  is  situated  in  a fine,  healthy,  sporting 
country.”  ‘"Alas!”  replied  Fletcher,  ‘‘alas,  Sir,  Dunham 
will  not  suit  me  ; there  is  too  much  money,  and  too  little 
labour.”  “ Few  clergymen  make  such  objections,”  rejoined 
Mr.  Hill.  “ It  is  a pity  to  decline  such  a living,  especially 
as  I know  not  that  I can  find  you  another.  What  shall  we 
do  Would  you  like  Madeley  “That,  Sir,”  said  Fletcher, 
“ would  be  the  very  place  for  me.”  “ My  object,”  answered 
Mr.  Hill,  “is  to  make  you  comfortable  in  your  own  way.  If 
you  prefer  Madeley,  I shall  find  no  difficulty  in  persuading 
Mr.  Chambers  to  exchange  it  for  Dunham,  which  is  worth 
more  than  twice  as  much  as  Madeley.”^ 

An  arrangement  was  soon  made.  Mr.  Hill’s  nephew  was 
the  patron  of  the  Madeley  living  ; and  Mr.  Hill  himself  the 
patron  of  that  of  Dunham.  The  uncle  and  nephew  met  at 
Shrewsbury  races,  and  there,  on  a racecoitrse,  of  all  places  in 
the  world,  it  was  settled  that  the  Madeley  living  should 
be  offered  to  Fletcher.  The  presentation  was  made  ; but 
Fletcher,  at  the  last  moment,  hesitated  to  accept  it,  and  wrote 
to  his  friend  Charles  Wesley  as  follows  : — 

''Tern,  September  26,  1760. 

"A  fortnight  ago,  the  minister  of  this  parish,  with  whom  I have  had 
no  connection  for  these  two  years,  sent  me  word  (I  know  not  why)  that 
his  pulpit  should  be  at  my  service  at  any  time. 

" Some  days  after,  I ventured  a visit  of  civility  to  the  vicar  of  a neigh- 
bouring parish,  who  fell  out  with  me,  three  years  ago,  for  preaching 
faith  in  his  church.  He  received  me  with  the  greatest  kindness,  and 
said  often,  he  would  have  me  take  the  care  of  souls  somewhere  or  other. 

" Last  Sunday,  the  vicar  of  Madeley,  to  whom  I was  formally  curate, 
coming  to  pay  a visit  here,  expressed  great  regard  for  me  ; seemed  to 
be  quite  reconciled : and  assured  me,  that  he  would  do  all  he  could  to 
serve  me ; of  which  he  yesterday  gave  me  a proof,  by  sending  me  a 
testimonial  unasked. 

" He  was  no  sooner  gone,  than  news  was  brought  that  the  old  clergy- 
man” (at  Dunham)  "died  suddenly  the  day  before;  and  that  same 
day,  before  I heard  it,  Mr.  Hill,  meeting,  at  the  races,  his  nephew,  wha 
is  patron  of  Madel^,  told  him,  if  he  would  present  me  to  Madeley,  he 
would  give  the  vicar  of  that  parish  the  living  vacated  by  the  old  clergy- 


Cox’s  " Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  32. 


56 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[i7€o. 


man’s  death.  This  was  immediately  agreed  to,  as  Mr.  Hill  himself 
informed  me  in  the  evening,  wishing  me  joy. 

‘‘You  have  repeatedly  advised  me  not  to  resist  Providence,  but  to 
follow  its  leadings.  I am,  however,  inwardly  in  suspense.  My  heart 
revolts  at  the  idea  of  being  here  alone,  opposed  by  my  superiors,  hated 
by  my  neighbours,  and  despised  by  all  the  world.  Without  piety,  without 
talents,  without  resolution,  how  shall  I repel  the  assaults,  and  surmount 
the  obstacles  which  I foresee,  if  I discharge  my  duty  at  Madeley  with 
fidelity  ? On  the  other  hand,  to  reject  this  presentation,  to  burn  this 
certificate,  and  to  leave  in  the  desert  the  sheep  whom  the  Lord  has 
evidently  brought  me  into  the  world  to  feed,  appears  to  me  nothing  but 
obstinacy  and  refined  self-love.  I will  hold  a middle  course  between 
these  extremes  : I will  be  vihoWy  ^passive  in  the  steps  I must  take  ; and 
active  in  praying  the  Lord  to  deliver  me  from  the  evil  one,  and  to  conduct 
me  in  the  way  He  would  have  me  to  go. 

“ If  you  see  anything  better,  inform  me  of  it  speedily;  and,  at  the 
same  time,  remember  me  in  all  your  prayers,  that,  if  this  matter  be  not 
of  the  Lord,  the  enmity  of  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield,  who  must  countersign 
my  testimonials  ; the  threats  of  the  chaplain  of  the  Bishop  of  Hereford, 
who  was  a witness  to  my  preaching  at  West  Street ; the  objections  drawn 
from  my  not  being  naturalized ; or  some  other  obstacle,  may  prevent 
the  kind  intentions  of  Mr.  Hill.’’  * 

Within  a week  after  the  date  of  this  communication,  several 
of  Fletcher’s  anticipated  obstacles  were  gone.  Hence  the 
following,  from  a letter  addressed  to  the  Countess  of  Hunt- 
ingdon, who  was  visiting  the  Rev.  Benjamin  and  Lady 
Margaret  Ingham,  in  Yorkshire  : — 

“ 1760,  October  3. — Were  I to  have  my  choice,  I would  prefer  waiting 
at  the  pool  under  your  roof,  or  that  of  those  who  think  like  you,  to  any 
other  way  of  life  ; and  I will  own  to  your  ladyship,  that  the  thought  of 
giving  this  up  is  one  of  the  chief  difficulties  I have  now  to  encounter. 
But  I seem  to  be  a prisoner  of  Providence,  who  is  going,  in  all  proba- 
bility, to  cast  my  lot  among  the  colliers  and  forge-men  of  Madeley. 
The  two  thousand  souls  of  that  parish,  for  whom  I was  called  into  the 
ministry,  are  many  sheep  in  the  wilderness,  which  I cannot  sacrifice  to 
my  own  private  choice, 

“ When  I was  suffered  to  attend  them,  for  a few  days,  some  began 
to  return  to  the  Shepherd  of  their  souls,  and  I found  it  then  in  my  h^art 
to  spend  and  be  spent  for  them.  It  is  true,  when  I was  sent  away  from 
them,  that  zeal  cooled  to  such  a degree,  that  I have  wished  a thousand 
times  they  might  never  be  committed  to  my  care  ; but  the  impression  of 
the  tears  of  those  who,  when  I left  them,  ran  after  me  crying,  ‘ Who  will 
now  show  us  the  way  to  heaven  ?’  never  quite  wore  off,  and,  upon  second 
thoughts,  I always  concluded  that,  if  the  Lord  made  my  way  plain  to 


Letters,  1791,  p.  106, 


Age  31]. 


Choosing  a Benefice. 


57 


their  church,  I could  not  run  away  from  it  without  disobeying  the  order 
of  Providence. 

“That  time  is  come.  The  church  is  vacated;  the  presentation  to  it 
brought,  unasked  for,  into  my  hands ; the  difficulty  of  getting  proper  testi- 
monials, which  I looked  upon  as  insurmountable,  vanishes  at  once  ; the 
three  clergymen  that  had  opposed  me  with  the  most  bitterness,  signed 
them  ; the  Bishop  of  Lichfield  countersigns  them  without  the  least 
objection  ; the  lord  of  the  manor,  my  great  opposer,  leaves  the  parish  ; 
and  the  very  man  (the  vicar),  who  told  me  I should  never  preach  in 
that  church,  now  recommends  me  to  it,  and  tells  me  he  will  induct  me 
himself. 

“ Are  not  these  intimations  of  the  will  of  God  ? It  seems  so  to  me. 
What  does  your  ladyship  think  ? I long  to  go  and  consult  you  in  York- 
shire, but  cannot  do  it  now,  without  giving  up  the  point  on  which  I want 
your  advice.”  ^ 

There  is,  or,  at  least,  there  used  to  be,  in  the  parish  vestry 
at  Madeley,  a book  containing  the  following  inscription  : — 
‘‘  John  Fletcher,  clerk,  was  inducted  to  the  vicarage  of 
Madeley,  the  17th  of  October,  1760.  John  Fletcher,  vicar.'’ 

The  deed  was  done.  Wesley  had  strongly  opposed  his 
acceptance  of  the  Madeley  living,  telling  him  that  to  take 
a living  was  not  his  calling.  Charles  Wesley’s  advice  is 
unknown  ; but,  probably,  it  was  the  reverse  of  his  brother’s. 
John  desired  and  greatly  needed  the  help  of  an  ordained 
clergyman,  not  only  to  preach,  but  to  administer  the  sacra- 
ments to  the  multiplying  Methodists.  He  tried  to  retain 
Fletcher,  a minister  to  his  own  heart’s  content ; but  he  failed. 
It  was  well  he  did.  In  the  itinerancy,  Fletcher’s  time  for 
reading  and  study  would  have  been  extremely  limited.  At 
Madeley,  he  had  abundance  of  leisure  for  both,  and,  during 
the  next  ten  years,  acquired  that  theological  wealth,  which, 
in  the  hour  of  need,  enabled  him  to  be  of  the  greatest  service 
to  Wesley,  by  the  writing  of  his  unanswerable  “ Checks  to 
Antinomianism.” 

Wesley’s  opposition  is  mentioned  in  the  following  extracts 
from  two  letters  addressed  to  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon: — 

“ 1760,  October  28.  All  the  little  circumstances  of  my  institution  and 
induction  have  taken  such  an  easy  turn,  that  I question  whether  any 
clergyman  ever  got  over  them  with  less  trouble.  I preached  last  Sunday, 


^ ‘‘  Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  237. 


58 


Wesleys  Designated  Successor. 


[1760. 


for  the  first  time,  in  my  church,  and  shall  continue  to  do  so,  though  I 
propose  staying  with  Mr.  Hill  till  he  leaves  the  country,  which  will  be, 

I suppose,  in  a fortnight,  partly  to  comply  with  him  to  the  last,  and 
partly  to  avoid  falling  out  with  my  predecessor,  who  is  still  at  Madeley, 
but  who  will  remove  about  the  same  time. 

Among  many  little  providences,  I shall  mention  one  to  your  lady- 
ship. The  Bishop  having  unexpectedly  sent  me  word  to  go  to  him 
for  institution  without  delay,  if  I wished  not  to  be  at  the  trouble  of 
following  him  to  London,  I set  out  in  haste  for  Hereford,  where  I arrived 
the  day  before  his  lordship’s  departure.  As  I went  along,  I thought 
that  if  my  going  to  Madeley  was  from  the  Lord,  it  was  providential  that 
I should  thus  be  called  to  be  instituted  in  the  country,  for  were  it  to  be 
in  London,  Sir  Peter  Rivers,  the  Bishop’s  chaplain,  who  examined  me 
for  orders,  and  who  made  so  much  noise  last  summer  in  West  Street 
Chapel,  where  he  found  me  preaching,  would  infallibly  defeat  the  end 
of  my  journey,  according  to  his  threatenings.  Thus  did  worldly  wisdom 
work  in  my  heart ; but  no  divination  can  stand  against  the  God  of  Jacob, 
who  is  a jealous  God,  and  does  not  give  His  glory  to  another.  A clergy- 
man, named  Sir  Dutton  Colt,  came  to  see  the  Bishop  just  as  I entered 
the  palace,  and  the  secretary,  coming  to  him,  said  in  my  hearing,  ‘ Sir 
Peter  is  just  come  from  London  to  take  possession  of  a prebend,  which 
the  Bishop  has  given  him  ; he  is  now  in  the  palace  ; how  do  you  rank 
with  him  ? ’ My  surprise  was  great,  for  a moment,  and  my  first  thought 
was  to  ride  away  without  institution  ; but,  having  gone  too  far  to  retreat, 
I had  an  instant  strength  from  on  high  to  be  still  and  see  the  salvation 
of  the  Lord.  My  second  thought  was  to  thank  God  for  sending  this 
man  from  London  in  that  point  of  time  to  defeat  Mr.  Hill’s  design; 
and,  easily  throwing  up  Madeley,  I cried  for  strength  to  make  a good 
confession  before  the  high  priest  and  the  scribe ; and  I felt  I had  it, 
but  I was  not  called  to  use  it,  for  the  Bishop  was  alone,  the  ceremony 
was  over  in  ten  minutes,  and  Sir  Peter  did  not  come  in  till  after.  I met 
him  at  the  door  of  the  Bishop’s  room,  and  a wig  I had  on  that  day 
prevented  his  recollecting  who  I was.  Your  ladyship  cannot  conceive 
how  thankful  I was  for  this  little  incident,  not  because  I was  not  dis- 
appointed of  a living,  but  because  I saw  and  felt,  that,  had  I been 
disappointed,  it  would  have  been  no  disappointment  to  me. 

If  I know  anything  of  myself,  I shall  be  much  more  ready  to  resign 
my  benefice,  when  I have  had  a fair  trial  of  my  unprofitableness  to  the 
people  committed  to  my  care,  than  I was  to  accept  it.  Mr.  John  Wesley 
bids  me  do  it  without  a trial,  He  will  have  me  ‘ see  the  devil’s  snare, 
and  fly  from  it  at  the  peril  of  my  soul.’  I answer,  I cannot  see  it  in 
that  light.  Pie  adds,  ^ Others  may  do  well  in  a living ; you  cannot ; it 
is  not  your  calling.’  I tell  him,  I readily  own  that  I am  not  fit  to  plant 
or  water  any  part  of  the  Lord’ s vineyard ; but  that  if  I am  called  at 
all,  I am  called  to  preach  at  Madeley,  where  I was  first  sent  into  the 
ministry,  and  where  a chain  of  providences,  I could  not  break,  has  again 
fastened  me  ; and  that,  though  I may  be  as  unsuccessful  as  Noah,  yet 
I am  determined  to  try  to  be  there  a preacher  of  Christ’s  righteousness; 


Age  31.]  Commencement  of  Ministry  at  Madeley,  59 


and  that,  notwithstanding  my  inability,  I am  not  without  hopes,  that 
He  who  reproved  a prophet’s  madness  by  the  mouth  of  an  ass,  may 
reprove  a collier’s  profaneness  even  by  my  mouth. 

''  I reserve  for  another  letter  an  account  of  my  own  soul,  and  of  what 
begins  to  be  as  dear  to  me  as  my  own  soul — my  ;par is 

The  other  letter,  here  promised,  was  written  three  weeks 
later.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  it : — 

‘‘Tern,  November  19,  1760. 

“ I have  hitherto  written  my  sermons,  but  I am  carried  so  far  beyond 
my  notes  when  in  the  pulpit,  that  I propose  preaching  with  only  my 
sermon-case  in  my  hand  next  Friday,  when  I shall  venture  on  an  evening 
lecture  for  the  first  time.  I question  whether  I shall  have  above  half-a- 
dozen  hearers  ; but  I am  resolved  to  try. 

“ The  weather  and  the  roads  are  so  bad,  that  the  way  to  the  church 
is  almost  impracticable  ; nevertheless  all  the  seats  were  full  last  Sunday. 
Some  begin  to  come  from  adjacent  parishes,  and  some  more  (as  they 
say)  threaten  to  come  when  the  season  permits. 

“I  cannot  yet  discern  any  deep  work,  or  indeed  anything  but  what 
will  always  attend  the  crying  down  of  man’s  righteousness,  and  the 
insisting  upon  Christ’s — I mean  a general  liking  among  the  poor ; and 
offence,  ridicule,  and  opposition  among  the  ‘ reputable  ’ and  ‘ wise  ’ 
people.  Should  the  Lord  vouchsafe  to  plant  the  Gospel  in  this  county, 
my  parish  seems  to  be  the  best  spot  for  the  centre  of  such  a work,  as  it 
lies  among  the  most  populous,  profane,  and  ignorant. 

“ But  it  is  well  if,  after  all,  there  is  any  work  in  my  parish.  I despair 
even  of  this,  when  I look  at  myself,  and  quite  fall  in  with  Mr.  John 
Wesley’s  opinion  about  me;  though  I sometimes  hope  the  Lord  has 
not  sent  me  here  for  nothing.  I am,  however,  fully  determined  to  resign 
my  living,  if  the  Lord  does  not  think  me  worthy  to  be  His  instrument.  I 
abhor  the  title  of  a living  for  a living’s  sake  ; it  is  death  to  me. 

“There  are  three  meetings  in  my  parish — a Papist,  Quaker,  and 
Baptist,  and  they  begin  to  call  the  fourth  the  Methodist  one — I mean 
the  Church.  But  the  bulk  of  the  inhabitants  are  stupid  heathens,  who 
seem  past  all  curiosity,  as  well  as  all  sense  of  godliness.  I am  ready 
to  run  after  them  into  their  pits  and  forges,  and  I only  wait  for  Providence 
to  show  me  the  way.  I am  often  reduced  to  great  perplexity  ; but  the 
end  of  it  is  sweet.  I am  driven  to  the  Lord,  and  He  comforts,  encou- 
rages, and  teaches  me.  I sometimes  feel  that  zeal  which  forced  Paul 
to  wish  to  be  accursed  for  his  brethren’s  sake;  but  I want  to  feel  it 
without  interruption.  The  devil,  my  friends,  and  my  heart  have  pushed 
at  me  to  make  me  fall  into  worldly  cares  and  creature  snares, — ^first,  by 
the  thoughts  of  marrying ; then,  by  the  offers  of  several  boarders,  one 
of  whom,  a Christian  youth,  offered  me  ;^6o  a year ; but  I have  been 


^ “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  voL  i.,  p.  238, 


6o 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1760. 


enabled  to  cry,  ‘ Nothing  but  Jesus ^ and  the  service  of  His  J>eoJ>le  ; * 
and  I trust  the  Lord  will  keep  me  in  the  same  mind.’^  ^ 

In  such  a way  and  spirit  did  Fletcher  begin  his  ministry 
of  twenty-five  years'  duration  at  Madeley.  Comment  on  his 
simple  and  honest  letters  is  unnecessary  ; it  would  be  unin- 
structive  meddling,  which  would  try  the  reader’s  patience. 


Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,’^  vol.  i.,  p.  239. 


Age  31.] 


Madeley. 


61 


CHAPTER  IV. 


FIRST  TWO  YEARS  AT  MADELEY, 


FROM  OCTOBER  1 7,  I/60,  TO  NOVEMBER  2 2,  I 762. 
LMOST  of  necessity,  the  life  of  a clergyman  in  a small 


country  town  is  an  uneventful  and  quiet  one  ; and, 
therefore,  the  first  ten  years  that  Fletcher  spent  at  Madeley 
were  unmarked  by  stirring  incidents,  such  as  were  perpetually 
occurring  in  the  lives  of  his  friends  Wesley  and  Whitefield. 

Madeley  is  a market  town  in  the  county  of  Salop.  It  is 
beautifully  situated  in  a winding  glen,  through  which  the 
river  Severn  flows.  In  1 800,  fifteen  years  after  Fletcher’s 
death,  it  contained,  according  to  the  parliamentary  returns, 
291  houses,  and  4,758  inhabitants.  The  church  is  dedicated 
to  St.  Michael  ; and  the  parish  includes  Coalbrook  Dale 
and  Madeley  Wood,  noted  for  their  coal  mines  and  their 
iron-works.  Colliers  and  iron-workers  at  Madeley,  in  the 
days  of  Fletcher,  were  quite  as  ignorant  and  brutal  as  they 
were  elsewhere.  His  mission  was  a trying  one ; and  its 
burdensomeness  was  not  lessened  by  the  fact  that  there  was 
not  a single  clergyman  in  the  county  of  Salop  who  approved 
of  his  Methodist  doctrines,  or  sympathized  with  his  Methodist 
endeavours.  Further,  he  was  without  parochial  experience. 
He  had  preached  for  the  Wesleys  and  for  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  ; and,  on  a few  rare  occasions,  he  had  been 
permitted  to  occupy  the  pulpits  of  the  Established  Church  ; 
but,  notwithstanding  the  temporary  assistance  he  had  ren- 
dered to  his  Madeley  predecessor,  he  had  never  held  a 
curacy.  In  parish  work  he  was  a novice  ; but  he  was  not 
dismayed.  A few  months  before  his  induction,  he  had  been 
with  Berridge,  who,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Hicks  at 


62 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1761. 


Wrestlingworth,  was  as  much  without  clerical  sympathy  and 
help  in  Bedfordshire,  Cambridgeshire,  and  Huntingdonshire, 
as  Fletcher  himself  was  now  in  Salop.  Berridge  had  seen 
marvellous  results  of  his  denounced  ministry,  and  why  should 
not  Fletcher  see  the  same  ? Hence,  on  January  6,  1761,  he 
wrote  as  follows  to  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  : — 

‘‘  I had  a secret  expectation  to  be  the  instrument  of  a work  in  this 
part  of  our  Church ; and  I did  not  despair  of  being  soon  a 
Berridge.  Thus  warmed  with  sparks  of  my  own  kindling,  T looked 
out  to  see  the  rocks  broken,  and  the  waters  flowing  out ; but,  to  the 
great  disappointment  of  my  hopes,  I am  now  forced  to  look  within,  and 
see  the  need  I have  of  being  broken  myself.  If  my  being  stationed  in 
this  howling  wilderness  is  to  answer  no  public  end  as  to  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  I will  not  give  up  the  hope  that  it  may  answer  a private  end  as 
to  myself,  in  humbling  me  under  a sense  of  unprofitableness. 

As  to  my  parish,  all  that  I see  in  it,  hitherto,  is  nothing  but  what 
one  may  expect  from  speaking  plainly,  and  with  some  degree  of  earnest- 
ness ; a crying  out,  ‘ He  is  a Methodist — a downright  Methodist ! ’ 
While  some  of  the  poorer  say,  ‘ Nay,  but  he  speaketh  the  truth  ! ’ Some 
of  the  best  farmers,  and  most  of  the  respectable  tradesmen,  talk  about 
turning  me  out  of  my  living  as  a Methodist  or  a Baptist.  My  Friday 
lecture  took  better  than  I expected,  and  I propose  to  continue  it  till 
the  congregation  desert  me.  The  number  of  hearers  at  that  time  is 
generally  larger  than  that  which  my  predecessor  had  on  Sunday.  The 
number  of  communicants  is  increased  from  thirty  to  above  a hundred  ; 
and  a few  seem  to  seek  grace  in  the  means.  I thank  your  ladyship  for 
mentioning  Mr.  Jones  as  a curate.  There  is  little  probability  of  my 
ever  wanting  one.  My  oath  obliges  me  to  residence,  and,  when  I am 
here,  I can  easily  manage  all  the  business,  and  only  wait  for  oppor- 
tunities of  oftener  bearing  witness  to  the  truth.'’  ^ 

Fletcher’s  troubles  were  various.  He  was  dissatisfied  with 
himself  ; a visionary  convert  caused  him  anxiety  ; and  many 
of  his  parishioners  maligned  him.  Writing  to  Charles  Wesley 
on  March  10,  1761,  he  remarked  : — 

‘‘I  feel  more  and  more  that  I neither  abide  in  Christ,  nor  Christ  in 
me  ; nevertheless,  I do  not  so  feel  it,  as  to  seek  Him  without  inter- 
mission. ^ Oh  wretched  man  that  I am  / ho  shall  deliver  me  from  ’ 
this  heart  of  unbelief  ^ Blessed  be  God,  who  has  promised  me  this 
deliverance,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! 

My  new  convert  has,  with  great  difficulty,  escaped  the  wiles  of  the 
devil ; who,  by  fifty  visions,  had  set  her  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple. 
Thanks  be  to  God,  she  has  come  down  without  being  cast  headlong. 


Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  240. 


Age  31.] 


Increasing  Labours, 


63 


I have  had  more  trouble  with  her  visions  than  with  her  unbelief.  Two 
other  persons  profess  that  they  have  received  the  consolations  of  Divine 
love  : I wait  for  their  fruits. 

few  days  ago,  I was  violently  tempted  to  quit  Madeley.  The 
spirit  of  Jonah  had  so  seized  upon  my  heart  that  I had  the  insolence  to 
murmur  against  the  Lord ; but  the  storm  is  now  happily  calmed,  at 
least  for  a season.  Alas  ! what  stubbornness  there  is  in  the  will  of 
man  ; and  with  what  strength  does  it  combat  the  will  of  God  under  the 
mask  of  ^iety,  when  it  can  no  longer  do  so  with  the  uncovered,  shame- 
less face  of  vice  ! ^ If  a man  bridleth  not  his  tongue,''  all  his  outward 
‘ religion  is  vain.'  May  we  not  add  to  this,  if  a man  bridleth  not  his 
will,  which  is  the  language  of  his  desires,  his  inward  religion  is  vain 
also  ? The  Lord  does  not,  however,  leave  me  altogether ; and  I have 
often  a secret  hope  that  He  will  one  day  touch  my  heart  and  lips  with 
a live  coal  from  the  altar ; and  that  then  His  word  shall  consume  the 
stubble,  and  break  to  pieces  the  stone. 

^‘The  question,  which  you  mean  to  repeat  at  the  end  of  the  winter, 
is,  I hope,  whether  you  shall  be  welcome  at  Madeley  ? My  answer  is, 
you  shall  be  welcome ; for  I have  already  lost  almost  all  my  reputation, 
and  the  little  that  remains  does  not  deserve  a competition  with  the 
pleasure  I shall  have  in  seeing  you.”  * 

Notwithstanding  his  dejection,  and  the  opposition  he  had 
to  encounter,  Fletcher  continued  to  labour  with  unflagging 
diligence.  To  his  Friday  night  lecture  he  now  added  the 
catechising  of  children  on  Sunday  afternoons,  but  relieved 
himself  of  the  toil  of  preparing  a second  Sunday  sermon,  by 
reading  the  sermons  of  other  men.  He  also  began  to  see  a 
prospect  of  commencing  services  at  Madeley  Wood  and  at 
Coalbrook  Dale.  Hence,  in  another  letter  to  Charles  Wesley 
he  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Madeley,  Apll  27,  1761. 

‘‘When  I first  came  to  Madeley,  I was  greatly  mortified  and  dis- 
couraged by  the  smallness  of  my  congregations  ; and  I thought  if  some 
of  our  friends  in  London  had  seen  my  little  company  they  would  have 
triumphed  in  their  own  wisdom.  But  now,  thank  God,  things  are 
altered  in  that  respect.  Last  Sunday,  I had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
some  in  the  churchyard  who  could  not  get  into  the  church. 

“ I began  a few  Sundays  ago  to  preach  in  the  afternoon,  after 
catechising  the  children  ; but  I do  not  preach  my  own  sermons.  Twice 
I read  a sermon  of  Archbishop  Usher’s;  and  last  Sunday  one  of  the 
Homilies,  taking  the  liberty  of  making  some  observations  on  such 
passages  as  confirmed  what  I had  advanced  in  the  morning ; and,  by 
this  means,  I stopped  the  mouths  of  many  adversaries. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  107. 


64 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1761. 


have  frequently  had  a desire  to  exhort  in  Madeley  Wood  and 
Coalbrook  Dale,  two  villages  of  my  parish  ; but  I have  not  dared  to  run 
before  I saw  an  oJ>en  door.  It  now,  I think,  begins  to  open.  Two  small 
Societies  of  about  twenty  persons  have  formed  of  themselves  in  those 
places,  although  the  devil  seems  determined  to  overturn  all.  A young 
person,  the  daughter  of  one  of  my  rich  parishioners,  has  been  thrown 
into  despair,  so  that  everybody  thought  her  insane,  and,  indeed,  I 
thought  so  too.  Judge  how  our  adversaries  rejoiced ; and,  for  my  part, 
I was  tempted  to  forsake  my  ministry,  and  take  to  my  heels  ; I never 
suffered  such  affliction.  Last  Saturday,  I humbled  myself  before  the 
Lord  on  her  account,  by  fasting  and  prayer ; and  I hope  the  Lord 
heard  my  prayer.  Yesterday,  she  found  herself  well  enough  to  come  to 
church. 

‘‘You  will  do  well  to  engage  your  colliers  at  Kingswood  to  pray  for 
their  poor  brethren  at  Madeley.  May  those  at  Madeley,  one  day,  equal 
them  in  faith,  as  they  now  do  in  that  wickedness , for  which  they  (the 
Kingswood  colliers)  were  famous  before  you  went  among  them. 

“Mr.  Hill  has  written  me  a very  obliging  letter,  to  engage  me  to 
accompany  the  elder  of  my  pupils  to  Switzerland ; and  if  I had  any 
other  country  than  the  place  where  I am,  I should,  perhaps,  have  been 
tempted  to  go.  At  present,  however,  I have  no  temptation  that  way, 
and  I have  declined  the  offer  as  politely  as  I could.”  ^ 

The  case  of  the  young  woman  just  mentioned  was  to 
Fletcher  a great  trial.  In  a letter  written  to  Lady  Hunting- 
don ^ on  the  same  day  as  the  foregoing  letter  to  Charles 
Wesley,  he  states,  that,  previous  to  this,  reports  had  been 
spread  that  he  drove  the  people  mad,  and  he  had  borne 
such  scandals  “ patiently  enough,''  but  this  ‘‘  glaring  instance," 
which  seemed  to  confirm  the  rumours  circulated  against  him, 
had  thrown  him  into  ‘^agonies  of  soul."  To  a great  extent, 
Fletcher  had  yet  to  learn  a lesson  which  the  Wesleys  and 
Whitefield  had  long  ago  been  taught : If  ye  be  reproached 

for  the  name  of  Christ,  happy  are  ye  ; for  the  spirit  of  glory 
and  of  God  resteth  upon  you"  (i  Peter  iv.  14). 

The  scandals  were  continued  ; and  even  the  pulpit  was 
used  in  lampooning  the  Madeley  preacher.  Hence  the 
following,  addressed  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

“ Madeley,  August  19,  1761. 

“I  know  not  whether  I mentioned  to  you  a sermon  preached  at  the 
Archdeacon’s  Visitation.  It  was  almost  all  levelled  at  the  points  which 
are  called  the  doctrines  of  Methodism,  and,  as  the  preacher  is  minister 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  109. 

^ “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  241. 


Age  31.] 


Rev,  Mr.  ProtherO^ s Sermon, 


65 


of  a parish  near  mine,  it  is  probable  he  had  me  in  his  eye.  After  the 
sermon,  another  clergyman  addressed  me  with  an  air  of  triumph,  and 
demanded  what  answer  I could  make.  As  several  of  my  parishioners 
were  present,  besides  the  churchwardens,  I thought  it  my  duty  to  take 
the  matter  up ; and  I have  done  so  by  writing  a long  letter  to  the 
preacher,  in  which  I have  touched  the  principal  mistakes  of  his  discourse, 
with  as  much  politeness  and  freedom  as  I was  able  ; but  I have  had  no 
answer.  I could  have  wished  for  your  advice  before  I sealed  my  letter ; 
but,  as  I could  not  have  it,  I have  been  very  cautious,  entrenching 
myself  behind  the  ramparts  of  Scripture,  as  well  as  those  of  our 
Homilies  and  Articles. 

know  not  what  to  say  to  you  of  the  state  of  my  soul.  I daily 
struggle  in  the  Slough  of  Despond,  and  I endeavour  every  day  to  climb 
the  Hill  Difficulty.  I need  wisdom,  mildness,  and  courage  ; and  no  man 
has  less  of  them  than  I. 

As  to  the  state  of  my  parish,  the  prospect  is  yet  discouraging.  New 
scandals  succeed  those  that  wear  away;  but  ^ o^ences  must  come' 
Happy  shall  I be  if  the  offence  cometh  not  by  me.  My  churchwardens 
speak  of  hindering  strangers  from  coming  to  the  church,  and  of  repel- 
ling them  from  the  Lord’s  table;  but  on  these  points  I am  determined 
to  make  head  against  them.  A club  of  eighty  working  men,  in  a 
neighbouring  parish,  being  offended  at  their  minister,  determined  to 
come  in  procession  to  my  church,  and  requested  me  to  preach  a sermon 
for  them  ; but  I thought  proper  to  decline  doing  so,  and  have  thereby 
a little  regained  the  good  graces  of  the  minister,  at  least  for  a time.”  ^ 

The  preacher,  at  the  Archdeacon's  visitation,  was  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Prothero  and  the  “ long  letter  " to  him  may  be 
found  in  Fletcher's  collected  works  (vol.  viii.),  where  it  fills 
twenty-eight  octavo  pages,  and  is  entitled  a Defence  of 
Experimental  Religion."  It  is  dated  ‘‘ Madeley,  July  25, 
1761." 

Mr.  Prothero's  ‘‘  elegant  sermon,"  as  Fletcher  terms  it, 
seems  to  have  consisted  of  two  parts  : a defence  of  revealed 
religion  against  Deists  and  Infidels  ; and  a warning  against 
religious  superstition  and  enthusiasm.  The  first  part  gave 
Fletcher  ‘‘  exceeding  great  satisfaction,"  and  the  design  of 
the  second  part  was  good,  for,  as  Fletcher  remarks,  “ It  is 
the  duty  of  a preacher  to  keep  the  sacred  truths  committed 
to  him,  as  well  from  being  perverted  by  enthusiasts,  as  from 
being  crushed  by  infidels.  Boasting  of  communion  with  God, 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  iii. 

^ Methodist  Magazine^  1 82 1 , p . 17. 

5 


66 


Wesky s Dengnated  Successor, 


[1761. 


and  peculiar  favours  from  heaven,  is  hurtful  to  the  cause  of 
Christ,  when  people’s  lives  show  them  to  be  actuated  by  a 
spirit  of  delusion  ; and  setting  up  impulses  in  the  room  of 
repentance,  faith,  hope,  charity,  obedience,  has  done  no  small 
mischief  in  the  Church  of  God.” 

But,  while  Fletcher  praises  Mr.  Prothero  for  the  goodness 
of  his  design,”  he  passes  strictures  upon  the  execution  of  it. 
He  condemns  Mr.  Prothero  for  ‘‘  representing,  in  general, 
that  virtue,  benevolence,  good-nature,  and  morality,  are  the 
way  to  salvation  and  shows,  that  according  “to  the  Word 
of  God  and  the  teaching  of  our  Church,”  sinners  are  saved 
by  the  exercise  of  faith  in  Christ.  He  objected  to  Mr.  Pro- 
thero’s  doctrine,  that,  by  nature,  and  without  the  assistance 
of  Divine  grace,  man  “has  the  same  power  to  enter  the  paths 
of  virtue  as  to  walk  across  a room.”  He  censured  the  way 
in  which  the  preacher  discountenanced  the  doctrine  of  the 
necessity  of  the  new  birth  ; and  he  maintained,  at  great 
length,  that  to  “ set  aside  all  feelings  in  religion,  and  to  rank 
them  with  unaccountable  impulses,”  is  not  consistent  with 
the  teachings  of  the  Bible,  and  with  the  Liturgy,  Articles,  and 
Homilies  of  the  English  Church. 

Soon  after  this,  Fletcher  was  in  another  trouble.  Hence 
the  following  letter  written  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

''Madeley,  October  12,  1761. 

Dear  Sir, — You  have  always  the  goodness  to  encourage  me, 
and  your  encouragements  are  not  unseasonable ; for  discouragements 
follow  one  after  another  with  very  little  intermission.  Those  which  are 
of  an  inward  nature  are  sufficiently  known  to  you  ; but  some  others  are 
peculiar  to  rnyself,  especially  those  I have  had  for  eight  days  past, 
during  Madeley  wake. 

“ Seeing  that  I could  not  suppress  these  bacchanals,  I did  all  in  my 
power  to  moderate  their  madness  ; but  my  endeavours  have  had  little 
or  no  effect.  You  cannot  well  imagine  how  much  the  animosity  of  my 
parishioners  is  heightened,  and  with  what  boldness  it  discovers  itself 
against  me,  because  I preached  against  drunkenness,  shows,  and  bull- 
baiting. The  publicans  and  maltmen  will  not  forgive  me.  They  think 
that  to  preach  against  drunkenness,  and  to  cut  their  purse,  is  the  same 
thing. 

^‘My  church  begins  not  to  be  so  well  filled  as  it  has  been,  and  I 
account  for  it  thus  : the  curiosity  of  some  of  my  hearers  is  satisfied,  and 
others  are  offended  by  the  word ; the  roads  are  worse  ; and  if  it  shall 
ever  please  the  Lord  to  pour  His  Spirit  upon  us,  the  time  is  not  yet  come. 


Age  32.]  Specimens  of  Fletcher^ s First  Sermons. 


67 


The  people,  instead  of  saying,  * Let  us  go  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord,’ 
exclaim,  ' Why  should  we  go  and  hear  a Methodist  ? ’ 

I should  lose  all  patience  with  my  flock  if  I had  not  more  reason  to 
be  satisfied  with  them  than  with  myself.  My  own  barrenness  furnishes 
me  with  excuses  for  theirs ; and  I wait  the  time  when  God  shall  give 
seed  to  the  sower  and  increase  to  the  seed  sown.  In  waiting  that  time, 
I learn  the  meaning  of  this  prayer,  ‘ Thy  will  be  done.’ 

Believe  me  your  sincere,  though  unworthy,  friend, 

'' J.  Fletcher.”  ‘ 

Fletcher’s  faithful  preaching  offended  the  publicans,  and, 
judging  of  his  sermons  in  general  by  the  following  specimens, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  his  preaching  offended  others.  The 
extracts  are  taken  from  a sermon  delivered  in  the  month  of 
December  1761,  and  first  published  in  the  Dublin  edition 
of  the  Methodist  Magazine  for  1821  (pp.  249-258).^  The 


’ Letters,  1791,  p.  112. 

2 Fletcher  seldom  wrote  his  sermons,  and  more  rarely  read  them.  More 
than  one  hundred  and  forty  sermons  of  Wesley’s  have  been  published, 
and  at  least  sixty  of  Whitefield’s  ; but  of  Fletcher’s,  who  had  much 
more  leisure  than  either  Wesley  or  Whitefield,  only  about  a dozen.  All 
the  rest  are  mere  outlines.  The  following  are  copied  from  Fletcher’s 
MSS.,  and  have  not  before  been  published.  They  may  be  taken  as  fair 
specimens  of  Fletcher’s  pulpit  preparations  and  pulpit  helps.  They  are 
skeletons  of  two  sermons,  preached  from  Matt.  xxii.  36-39  : — 

Why  we  must  love  God. 

II.  How  we  must  love  Him^ 

^MII.  What  we  must  do  in  order  to  love  Him. 

He  is  our  Creator,  Preserver,  Redeemer,  Sanctifier.  He  commands 
us  to  love  Him.  Out  of  His  love  there  is  no  happiness.  Love  of  God 
contains  all.  He  loved  us  first. 

With  all  our  soul,  heart,  and  strength.  Above  all  things.  More 
than  our  life,  wives,  children,  estate,  honour,,  ourselves. 

Be  convinced  we  do  not  love  Him.  Abhor  ourselves  for  our  rebellion. 
Confess,  repent,  and  believe.  Keep  a sense  of  our  forgiveness.  Pray 
to  Him.  Praise  Him.  Walk  with  Him.  Seek  but  Him.  Refuse  all 
comfort  unless  we  feel  His  love.  Keep  a constant  communion  with  Him 
by  seeing  His  glory  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 

‘‘How  have  we  fulfilled  this  great  duty  ? Try  yourselves.  Pray  an 
hour  by  yourselves.  If  you  do  not  love,  you  hate.  What  fury  to  hate 
all  that  is  good,  great,  and  lovely  ! What  madness  to  set  our  love  on 
creatures  ! It  must  fall  with  them.  Love  God  in  Christ.  Look  to 
Christ.  Believe  in  Christ,  to  love  God.  If  you  do  not  love  Him,  you  are 
in  your  lives  in  the  devil’s  state.  You  can  no  more  go  to  heaven  than 
the  devil.  Choose  which  you  will  love.  The  world  calls.  Let  us  give 
all  for  all.” 

‘‘  Love  thy  neighbour . All  men  ; though  never  so  distant  in  place, 
different  in  opinions,  interests.  Because  made  by  the  same  hand  ; par- 


68 


Wesley* s Designated  Successor, 


[1761. 


text  was,  “ Thou  shalt  speak  My  words  to  them,  whether 
they  will  hear  or  whether  they  will  forbear,  for  they  are  most 
rebellious  (Ezek.  ii.  7).  After  challenging  his  congrega- 
tion to  assert  their  innocence,  Fletcher  proceeded  : — 

Supposing  you  never  allowed  yourself  to  dishonour  the  name  of  God 
by  customary  swearing,  or  grossly  to  violate  His  Sabbaths,  or  commonly 
to  neglect  the  solemnities  of  His  public  worship  ; supposing,  again,  that 
you  have  not  injured  your  neighbours  in  their  lives,  their  chastity,  their 
character,  or  their  property,  either  by  violence  or  by  fraud  ; or  that  you 
never  scandalously  debased  your  rational  nature  by  that  vile  intemper- 
ance which  sinks  a man  below  the  worst  kind  of  brutes  ; supposing  all 
this,  can  you  pretend  that  you  have  not  in  smaller  instances  violated  the 
rules  of  piety,  of  temperance,  and  of  chastity?  Does  not  your  own  heart 
prove  you  guilty  of  pride,  of  passion,  of  sensuality,  of  an  excessive  fond- 
ness for  the  world  and  its  enjoyments  ; of  murmuring,  or  at  least  secretly 
repining,  against  God  under  the  strokes  of  an  afflictive  Providence ; of 
misspending  a great  deal  of  your  time ; of  abusing  the  gifts  of  God's 
bounty  to  vain,  and,  in  some  instances,  to  pernicious  purposes  ; of 
mocking  Him  when  you  have  pretended  to  engage  in  His  worship, 
drawing  near  to  Him  with  your  lips  while  your  heart  has  been  far  from 
Him  ? Does  not  your  conscience  condemn  you  of  some  one  breach  of 
the  law  at  least  ? and  by  one  breach  of  it,  does  not  the  Holy  Ghost  bear 
witness  (James  ii.  10)  that  you  are  become  guilty  of  all,  and  are  as  in- 
capable of  being  justified  before  God  by  any  obedience  of  your  own,  as 
if  you  had  committed  ten  thousand  offences  ? But,  in  reality,  there  are 
ten  thousand  and  more  to  be  charged  to  your  account.  When  you  come 
to  reflect  on  all  your  sins  of  negligence,  as  well  as  on  your  voluntary 
transgressions  ; on  all  the  instances  in  which  you  have  failed  to  do  good 
when  it  was  in  your  power  to  do  it ; on  all  the  instances  in  which  acts  of 
devotion  have  been  omitted,  especially  in  secret ; and  on  all  those  cases 
in  which  you  have  shown  a stupid  disregard  to  the  honour  of  God,  and 
to  the  temporal  and  eternal  happiness  of  your  fellow-creatures  ; when  all 
these,  I say,  are  reviewed,  the  number  will  swell  beyond  all  possibility 
of  account,  and  force  you  to  cry  out,  ‘ I am  rebellious,  most  rebellious  ; 
mine  iniquities  are  more  than  the  hairs  of  my  head  ! ' They  will  appear 


takers  of  the  same  nature;  bought  with  the  same  blood;  capable  of  the 
same  happiness. 

As  ourselves.  Not  judging  ; not  thinking  evil ; not  speaking  evil ; 
not  defrauding  ; not  coveting  ; doing  them  good  ; praying  for  them ; 
honouring  them 

‘‘  Because  all  made  in  image  of  God.  None  but  in  something  better 
than  ourselves  ; none  but  is  a child  of  God,  or  may  become  so . 

‘‘Put  the  best  construction  on  words  or  actions,  much  more  upon 
thoughts.  Relieve  necessities.  This  is  imitating  God.  What  we  give 
is  lent  to  God. 

“Love  universally,  constantly,  impartially,  sincerely;  from  a sense 
of  Christ’s  love.” 


Age  32.]  Specimens  of  Fletcher's  First  Sermons. 


69 


in  such  a light  before  you  that  your  own  heart  will  charge  you  with 
countless  multitudes ; and  how  much  more  then  that  God,  ‘ who  is 
greater  than  your  heart,  and  knoweth  all  things  ^ ” 

This  was  plain  speaking,  but  very  characteristic  of  the 
preaching  of  the  Church  of  England  Methodists.  Space  will 
permit  only  one  other  extract  from  this  sermon. 

And  now,  sinner,  think  seriously  with  yourself  what  defence  you  will 
make  to  all  this  ? Will  you  fly  in  the  face  of  God  and  that  of  your  con- 
science so  openly  as  to  deny  one  of  the  charges  of  rebellion,  yea,  of 
aggravated  rebellion,  I have  advanced  against  you  ? Have  you  not 
lifted  yourself  up  against  the  Lord  of  heaven  ? Have  you  not  sided  with 
His  sworn  enemies — the  world  and  the  flesh  ? What  part  of  your  body, 
what  faculty  of  your  soul,  have  you  not  employed  as  an  instrument  of 
unrighteousness  ? When  did  you  live  one  day  before  God  with  the 
dependence  of  a creature,  the  gratitude  of  a redeemed  creature,  the 
heavenly  frame  of  a sanctified  creature  ? Nay,  when  did  you  live  one 
hour  without  violating  God’s  known  law,  either  in  word,  or  thought,  or 
action  ? Have  not  you  done  it  almost  continually  by  the  vanity  of  your 
mind  and  the  hardness  of  your  heart,  if  not  by  the  open  immorality  of 
your  life  ? And,  what  infinitely  aggravates  your  guilt,  have  you  not  de- 
spised and  abused  God’s  numberless  mercies  ? Have  you  not  affronted 
conscience.  His  deputy  in  your  breast  ? Have  you  not  resisted  and 
grieved  His  Spirit  ? Yea,  have  you  not  trifled  with  Him  in  all  your  pre- 
tended submissions  or  solemn  engagements  ? Thousands  are,  no  doubt, 
already  in  hell  whose  guilt  never  equalled  yours ; and  yet  God  has  spared 
you  to  see  almost  the  end  of  another  year,  and  to  hear  now  this  plain 
representation  of  your  case.  And  will  you  not  yet  consider  ? Shall 
nothing  move  you  to  shake  off  that  amazing  carelessness  and  stupid 
disregard  of  your  salvation  ? Will  you  never  begin  to  ‘ work  it  out  with 
fear  and  trembling’  ? Will  you  slumber  in  impenitency  till  eternal  woes 
crush  you  into  destruction  ? Is  death,  is  judgment,  is  the  bottomless  pit 
so  distant  that  you  dare  put  oft  from  week  to  week  the  day  of  your  con- 
version ? You  have  read  in  God’s  Word  that  there  is  mercy  with  Him 
that  He  may  be  feared  ; but  where  did  you  read  that  there  is  mercy  with 
Him  for  those  who  fear  Him  not  ? Show  me  such  a place  ; I shall  not 
say  anywhere  in  the  Bible,  but  in  any  book  written  by  a moral  heathen. 
And  yet  you  hope  you  can  be  saved  in  this  way. 

‘^Sinner,  despise  me  Aere  if  thou  wilt;  call  me /lere  3in  enthusiast, 
and  laugh  at  the  concern  I feel  for  thy  perishing  soul ; but  hereafter 
thou  wilt  do  me  justice,  clear  me  before  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  acknowledge 
that  thy  blood  is  upon  thine  own  head,  that  thou  art  undone  because 
thou  wouldst  be  undone,  because  thou  wouldst  take  neither  warning  nor 
reproof.” 

To  give  the  reader  a further  idea  of  the  faithfulness  and 
searching  character  of  Fletcher’s  preaching  at  this  early 


70 


Wesky s Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


period  of  his  Madeley  ministry,  the  subjoined  extracts  are 
given  from  sermons  preached  during  the  first  three  months 
of  1762. 

In  January,  1762,^  he  delivered  a discourse  upon  the 
words,  ‘‘Ye  will  not  come  unto  Me,  that  ye  might  have  life;'' 
in  which  he  described  “ four  classes  of  sinners  who  will  not 
come  to  Christ  that  they  might  have  life;"  and  proved  “that 
unbelief,  or  not  coming  to  Christ  for  life,  is  the  most  abomi- 
nable and  damning  of  all  sins."  One  brief  extract  on  the 
latter  point  must  suffice  : — 

‘‘  Unbelief  is  a sin  of  so  deep  a dye  that  the  devils  in  hell  cannot  com- 
mit the  like.  Our  Saviour  never  prayed,  wept,  bled,  and  died  for  devils. 
He  never  said  to  them,  ‘ Ye  will  not  come  unto  Me,  that  ye  might  have 
life.^  They  can  never  be  so  madly  ungrateful  as  to  slight  a Saviour. 
Mercy  never  wooed  their  stubborn,  proud  hearts  as  it  does  ours.  They 
have  abused  grace,  it  is  true,  but  they  never  trampled  mercy  underfoot. 
This  more  than  diabolical  sin  is  reserved  for  thee,  careless  sinner.  Now 
thou  hearest  Christ  compassionately  say  in  the  text,  ‘ Ye  will  not  come 
unto  Me,’  and  thou  remainest  unmoved;  but  the  time  cometh  w^hen 
Jesus,  who  meekly  entreats,  shall  sternly  curse;  when  He  who  in  tender 
patience  says,  * Ye  will  not  come  unto  Me,’  shall  thunder  in  righteous 
vengeance,  * Depart  from  Me,  ye  cursed;  depart  unto  the  second  death, 
— the  fire  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.’  In  vain  wilt  thou  plead 
then  as  thou  dost  now,  ‘ Lord,  I am  no  adulterer ; I am  no  extortioner  ; 
I used  to  eat  at  Thy  table  ; I was  baptized  in  Thy  name  ; I was  a true 
churchman  ; there  are  many  worse  than  I am.’  This  will  not  admit  thee 
into  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  His  answer  will  be,  ‘I  know  you  not;  you 
never  came  to  Me  for  life.’  ” 

Plain  preaching  such  as  this  was  not  likely  to  please  the 
easy-going  Pharisees  of  the  age  in  which  Fletcher  lived,  any 
more  than  it  is  likely  to  be  popular  among  the  same  class  of 
people  at  the  present  day.  To  utter  such  truths  required 
courage  then ; and  it  requires  courage  now.  Fletcher,  one  of 
the  gentlest  of  human  beings,  possessed  this  courage. 

No  doubt  there  were  many  occasions  when  his  sermons 
were  full  of  the  richest  comfort  to  those  who  had  truly^ 
repented,  and  unfeignedly  believed  Christ’s  holy  Gospel;  but 
he  never  failed  faithfully  to  fulfil  an  Old  Testament  commis- 
sion, binding  upon  the  ministers  of  God  throughout  all  time: 
“ Cry  aloud,  spare  not,  lift  up  thy  voice  like  a trumpet,  and 


Methodist  Magazine^  1821,  p.  651. 


Age  32.]  Specimens  of  Fletcher  s First  Sermons, 


71 


show  My  people  their  transgression,  and  the  house  of  Jacob 
their  sins  (Isa.  Iviii.  i). 

At  the  risk  of  wearying  the  reader,  further  extracts  must 
be  given,  exemplifying  Fletcher’s  fearless  fidelity. 

On  January  4,  1762,  England  declared  war  against  Spain; 
and,  a few  days  after,  proclamations  were  issued  for  a general 
fast  to  be  observed  in  England,  Scotland,  Wales,  and  Ireland, 
in  the  month  of  March."  Fletcher,  as  a loyal  Churchman, 
preached  on  this  occasion  'p  his  text  was  Ezek.  xxxiii.  7-9. 
After  a few  preliminary  remarks  respecting  the  king’s  “ pious 
proclamation,”  he  proceeds  to  say, — 

‘*We  must  attack,  unmask,  and  overthrow  vice  with  holy  violence, 
and  strike  at  the  heart  of  sin  with  the  boldness  of  John  the  Baptist,  and 
in  the  spirit  of  Elijah.  Without  any  apology  for  my  plainness,  I shall 
endeavour  to  convince  the  wicked  man  both  of  his  wickedness  and 
danger.” 

Fletcher  begins  with  “ practical  atheists  ” 

‘^Thousands  there  are,  who,  by  gross  ignorance,  shameful  neglect  of 
instruction,  and  abominable  contempt  of  godliness,  are  in  the  front  of 
the  battle,  and  next  to  the  prince  of  darkness.  Their  heart  is  darkened 
by  the  mists  of  pride  and  the  clouds  of  presumption,  and  they  are  such 
utter  strangers  to  their  want  of  spiritual  light  and  divine  grace,  that 
they  seldom  or  never  call  upon  God  for  help  with  any  solemnity.  The 
unhappy  heathenish  families  who  are  of  that  stamp  meet  regularly  every 
day  to  eat,  drink,  and  make  provision  for  the  flesh  ; but  how  seldom  do 
they  meet  to  read  and  pray.  You  will  find  almost  as  much  godliness 
among  the  wild  Indians  as  among  these  practical  atheists.  But  why 
should  I call  them  atheists  ? They  have  many  gods.  The  world  is 
their  god ; pleasure  is  their  god ; vanity  is  their  god ; money  is  their 
god ; their  belly  is  their  god ; to  some  or  other  of  these  idols,  they 
sacrifice  their  hearts  and  their  time.  As  for  the  God  of  heaven,  the 
great  and  eternal  Jehovah,  they  put  Him  off  with  a careless  attendance 
on  His  public  worship  on  Sunday  morning,  if  the  weather  suits  them  ; 
and  it  is  well  if  to  this  they  add  sometimes  the  babbling  over  of  the 
Lord’s  Prayer  and  the  Creed,  which,  after  all,  in  the  manner  in  which 
they  do  it,  is  no  better  than  a solemn  mockery  of  the  Saviour,  whom 
they  constantly  crucify  afresh.  Do  you  belong  to  such  a heathenish, 
prayerless  family  ? If  you  do,  suffer  me  to  deliver  my  soul  by  telling 
you,  that  you  are  the  very  first  person  to  whom  I am  bound  to  say, 
‘ Thou  shalt  surely  die.’  Read  your  sentence  in  Psalm  Ixxix.  6.  What! 
shall  the  indignation  of  the  Lord  fall  upon  prayerless  families  among 


London  Magazine y 1762,  p.  48. 

Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine y 1822,  p.  153. 


72 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor, 


[1762. 


the  heathen,  and  shall  it  pass  by  the  nominally  Christian,  but  prayerless 
family  to  which  you  belong  ? No,  no  ; the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  will 
do  right ; He  wall  repay  you  to  your  face.” 

The  wicked  is  often  known,  to  others  and  to  himself,  by  his  injustice, 
oppression,  cruelty,  deceit,  and  unfair  dealing.  Did  you  ever  make  a 
prey  of  the  poor  and  helpless  ? Are  you  like  the  horse-leech,  crying, 

‘ Give,  give,’  still  wanting  more  profit,  and  never  thinking  you  have 
enough  ? Do  you  take  more  care  to  lay  up  treasures  on  earth  than  in 
heaven  ? Have  you  got  the  unhappy  secret  of  distilling  silver  out  of 
the  poor  man’s  brow,  and  gold  out  of  the  tears  of  helpless  widows  and 
friendless  orphans  ? Or,  which  is  rather  worse,  do  you,  directly  or 
indirectly,  live  by  poisoning  others,  by  encouraging  the  immoderate  use 
of  those  refreshments,  which,  taken  to  excess,  disorder  the  reason,  ruin 
the  soul,  and  prove  no  better  than  slow  poison  to  the  body  ? If  your 
business  calls  you  to  buy  or  sell,  do  you  use  falsehood  ? do  you  equivo- 
cate ? do  you  exaggerate  or  conceal  the  truth,  in  order  to  impose  upon 
your  neighbour,  and  make  a profit  of  his  necessity  or  credulity  ? If 
any  of  these  marks  be  upon  you,  God’s  word  singles  you  out,  and  drags 
you  to  the  bar  of  Divine  justice  to  hear  your  doom  in  the  text,  ‘ The 
wicked  shall  surely  die.’  O,  see  your  danger;  repent,  and  make  resti- 
tution ! Why  should  you  meet  the  unjust  steward  in  hell,  when  you 
may  yet  follow  Zaccheus  into  heaven  ?” 

There  is  another  fearful  sin,,  which  has  in  it  no  profit,  no  pleasure, 
no,  not  sensual  sweetness  enough  to  bait  the  hook  of  temptation.  The 
only  enticement  to  it  is  the  diabolical  disposition  of  the  wicked  man^ 
and  the  horrid  pride  he  takes  in  cutting  a figure  among  the  children 
of  Belial.  I speak  of  oaths  and  curses, — those  arrows  shot  from  the 
string  of  a hellish  heart,  and  the  bow  of  a Luciferian  tongue,  against 
heaven  itself ; these  are  some  of  the  sparks  of  hell-fire,  which,  now  and 
then,  come  out  of  the  throat  of  a wicked  man.  Do  they  ever  come  out 
of  thine  ? A year  ago,  I laid  before  you  the  horror  of  that  sin,  and 
besought  you  to  leave  it  to  Satan  and  his  angels,  and  to  act  no  more 
the  part  of  an  incarnate  devil.  Have  you  strictly  complied  with  that 
request  ? Has  not  heaven  been  pierced  with  another  fiery  dart  ? Have 
not  good  men,  or  good  angels  (if  any  attend  you  still)  shuddered  at 
those  imprecations,  which  you  have  used,  perhaps  without  remorse  ? ’ ’ 
But,  perhaps,  your  conscience  bears  you  witness  that  you  are  not  a 
swearing  Christian,  or  rather  a swearing  infidel.  Well;  but  are  you 
clear  in  the  point  of  adultery,  fornication,  or  uncleanness  ? Does  not 
the  guilt  of  some  vile  sin,  which  you  have  wickedly  indulged  in  time 
past,  and  perhaps  are  still  indulging,  mark  you  for  the  member  of  a 
harlot,  and  not  the  member  of  Christ  ? Do  you  not  kindle  the  wrath  of 
heaven  against  yourself  and  your  country^  as  the  men  and  women  of 
Gomorrah  did  against  themselves  and  the  other  cities  of  the  plain  ? If 
you  cherish  the  sparks  of  wantonness,  as  they  did,  how  can  you  but  be 
made  with  them  to  suffer  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire  ? Do  not  flatter 
yourselves  with  the  vain  hope,  that  your  sin  is  not  so  heinous  as  theirs. 
If  it  be  less  in  degree,  is  it  not  infinitely  greater  in  its  aggravating 


Age  32.]  Specimens  of  Fletcher's  First  Sermons. 


73 


circumstances  ? Were  these  poor  Canaanites  Christians  ? Had  they 
Bibles  and  ministers  ? Had  they  sermons  and  sacraments  ? Did  they 
ever  vow,  as  you  have  done,  to  renounce  the  devil,  and  all  the  sinful 
lusts  of  the  flesh  ? Did  they  ever  hear  of  the  Son  of  God  sweating  great 
drops  of  blood,  in  an  agony  of  prayer,  to  quench  the  fire  of  human 
corruption  ? O acknowledge  your  guilt  and  danger,  and,  by  deep  repent- 
ance, prevent  infallible  destruction. 

I cannot  pass  in  silence  the  detestable,  though  fashionable,  sin, 
which  has  brought  down  the  curse  of  heaven,  and  poured  desolation 
and  ruin  upon  the  most  flourishing  kingdoms, — I mean  pride  in  apparel. 
Even  in  this  place,  where  poverty,  hard  labour,  and  drudgery  would, 
one  should  think,  prevent  a sin  which  Christianity  cannot  tolerate  even 
in  kings’  houses,  there  are  not  wanting  foolish  virgins,  who  draw  iniquity 
with  cords  of  vanity,  and  betray  the  levity  of  their  hearts  by  that  of  their 
dress.  Yea,  some  women,  who  should  be  mothers  in  Israel,  and  adorn 
themselves  with  good  works  as  holy  and  godly  matrons,  openly  affect 
the  opposite  character.  You  may  see  them  offer  themselves  first  to  the 
idol  of  vanity,  and  then  sacrifice  their  children  upon  the  same  altar. 
As  some  sons  of  Belial  teach  their  little  ones  to  curse,  before  they  can 
well  speak,  so  these  daughters  of  Jezebel  drag  their  unhappy  offspring, 
before  they  can  walk,  to  the  haunts  of  vanity  and  pride.  They  complain 
of  evening  lectures,  but  run  to  midnight  dancings.  O that  such  persons 
would  let  the  prophet’s  words  sink  into  their  frothy  minds,  and  fasten 
upon  their  careless  hearts : ‘ Because  the  daughters  of  Sion  are  haughty, 
and  walk  with  stretched-forth  necks  and  wanton  eyes,  the  Lord  will 
smite  with  a sore  the  crown  of  their  head,  and  discover  their  shame  : 
instead  of  well-set  hair,  there  shall  be  baldness,  and  burning  instead  of 
beauty.’  ” 

These  abbreviated  extracts  of  Fletcher’s  descriptions  of 
‘'the  wicked”  are  followed  by  his  directions  to  humble  them- 
selves before  Almighty  God  ; to  confess  their  sins  with  deep 
sorrow,  and  to  return  to  the  Lord  with  prayer  and  fasting  ; 
to  meditate  on  the  universality,  commonness,  and  boldness 
of  the  nation’s  wickedness  ; to  begin  a visible  and  thorough 
reformation  ; and  to  seek  personal  salvation  in  Christ.  The 
bold  preacher  cries  : — 

From  the  gilded  palace  to  the  thatched  cottage,  our  guilt  calls  for 
vengeance.  Wickedness  is  become  so  fashionable,  that  he  who  refuses 
to  run  with  others  into  vanity,  intemperance,  or  profaneness,  is  in  danger 
of  losing  his  character,  on  one  hand ; while,  on  the  other,  the  son  of 
Belial  prides  himself  in  excesses,  glories  in  diabolical  practices,  and 
scoffs  with  impunity  at  religion  and  virtue.  O England  ! England  ! 
happy,  yet  ungrateful  island ! Dost  thou  repay  fruitfulness  by  pro- 
faneness,— plenty  by  vanity, — liberty  by  impiety, — and  the  light  of 
Christianity  by  excesses  of  immorality  ? 


74 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


‘‘  As  you  regard  the  prosperity  of  the  king,  the  good  of  our  Church, 
and  the  welfare  of  our  country  ; — as  you  would  not  bring  a private  curse 
upon  yourself,  your  house,  and  your  dearest  friends  ; — as  you  value  the 
honour  of  Almighty  God,  and  dread  His  awakened  wrath  ; — as  you  would 
not  force  Him  to  make  our  land  a field  of  blood,  or  to  break  the  staff  of 
our  bread,  and  send  famine,  pestilence,  popery,  or  some  other  fearful 
judgment  among  us  ; — I pray  you,  I beseech,  I entreat  each  of  you,  my 
dear  brethren  ! as  upon  my  bended  knees, — in  the  name  of  our  Lord 
Jesus,  and  by  those  bowels  of  Divine  mercy  against  which  we  have 
madly  kicked  in  times  past,  and  which,  nevertheless,  still  yearn  over 
us, — I entreat  you  not  to  rest  in  outward  humiliation  and  reformation. 
Christians  must  go  one  step  beyond  the  Ninevites.  O seek  then,  with 
all  true  Christians,  a righteousness  superior  to  that  of  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees.  Seek  it  in  Christ.  Never  rest,  till  you  are  sure  of  your 
interest  in  Him  ; till  you  feel  the  virtue  of  His  blood  applied  to  your 
hearts  by  the  power  of  His  Spirit.  Without  this,  all  the  rest  will  stand 
you  in  little  stead.”  ^ 

This,  in  truth,  was  thunder  and  lightning  preaching, — no 
doubt  greatly  needed  then,  as,  indeed,  it  is  greatly  needed 
now  ; preaching  likely  to  give  offence,  but  the  faithfulness 
of  which  God  always  honours,  and  crowns  with  marked 
success.  It  raised  up  against  Fletcher  bitter  enemies  ; but 
it  was  the  means  of  converting  not  a few  of  his  godless 
parishioners. 

One  of  these  was  Mary  Matthews,  who,  listening  to  the 
reproaches  cast  upon  Fletcher,  was  greatly  prejudiced  against 
him.  At  length,  she  went  to  hear  him.  Mary  thought  her- 
self very  good,  but  Fletcher  showed  she  was  very  vile.  For 
two  years,  she  was  an  earnest  penitent,  and  then,  by  faith  in 
Christ,  found  peace  with  God.  Mary  was  brought  before 
magistrates  for  opening  her  little  house,  in  Madeley  Wood, 
for  preaching,  but  she  continued  faithful;  and,  in  1788, 
passed  away  to  heaven,  her  last  words  being,  “ I am  almost 
at  home.  Farewell ! God  bless  you  ! God  for  ever  bless 
you!^^ 

Another  was  Mary  Barnard,  who  lived  to  the  age  of 
ninety,  was  very  lame,  but  always  crawled  to  Madeley 
church  when  the  weather  would  permit.  Totally  without 
education  herself,  she  had  a son  who  became  a Methodist 
local  preacher.  Her  death  occurred  in  1797,  and  her  last 


JVesleyan  Methodist  Magazine^  1822,  p . 222. 


Ace  32.] 


Answers  to  an  Objection. 


75 


message  to  Fletcher’s  widow  was, — ‘‘  The  covenant  is  signed 
and  sealed  between  my  Lord  and  me.  I am  His  by  a 
marriage  bond  ; and  He  is  mine.  And  now  I set  to  my 
seal,  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  cleanses  from  all  sin.”  ^ 

Such  conversions  were  among  Fletcher’s  encouragements  ; 
and  he  greatly  needed  them.  His  preaching  saved  some, 
but  offended  others.  In  one  of  his  unpublished  manuscripts, 
dated  “ Madeley,  February  28,  1762,”  he  notes  a somewhat 
remarkable  occurrence  : — 

'‘Last  Sunday,  only  one  objection  was  made  against  the  doctrine  I 
preached  in  this  church,  and  that,  I think,  was  a poor  one,  as  it  was 
supported  by  no  argument  and  no  Scripture.  The  sum  of  it  was  this, 
‘ It  is  hard  to  say  that  one  breach  of  the  law  brings  a man  under  the 
curse,  and  exposes  one  out  of  Christ  to  the  damnation  of  hell.’  To  this 
I answer  by  four  arguments. 

“ The  first  is  taken  from  matters  of  fact  in  the  Word  of  God.  By  one 
sin,  and  by  the  offence  of  one,  condemnation  came  upon  all  men, 
namely  by  the  one  sin  of  Adam’s  eating  the  forbidden  fruit.  And  a 
more  awful  example  you  have  in  the  sudden  destruction  of  Ananias  and 
Sapphira  his  Wiiefor  having  told  one  single  lie, 

“The  second  argument  is  taken  from  common  sense,  which  tells  us 
that  one  leak  in  a ship  unstopped  will  sink  it  in  time,  as  certainly  as 
a hundred ; one  piece  broken  out  of  a glass  makes  it  a useless  glass, 
as  much  as  if  it  was  dashed  into  twenty  pieces ; one  stab  of  a dagger 
through  the  heart  kills  a man  as  much  as  a hundred  would.  And  so 
one  sin  uncancelled  by  Christ’s  blood  will  as  surely  destroy  an  uncon- 
verted man  as  a hundred,  though  his  destruction  will  not  be  so  terrible 
as  that  of  him  who  has  committed  a hundred. 

“ The  third  argument  is  taken  from  the  exactness  of  human  laws  and 
the  practice  of  earthly  judges.  They  all  condemn  a man  for  one  single 
offence.  If  one  can  be  proved  it  is  enough.  Let  a murderer  kill  one 
man,  he  is  to  be  hanged  as  well  as  if  he  had  killed  a hundred.  Let 
a highwayman  take  one  pound  from  one  single  person,  the  law  con- 
demns him  for  a felon,  and  sends  him  to  the  gallows,  as  well  as  if  he 
had  taken  a thousand  pounds  from  a thousand  different  travellers.  The 
law  of  the  land,  to  the  breach  of  which  the  penalty  is  annexed,  is  as 
effectually  broken  by  one  act  of  felony  as  by  a hundred  ; and  the  law  of 
God  is  as  much,  though  not  so  heinously,  broken,  by  one  sin  as  by 
a hundred  : consequently  the  law  of  God  curses  and  damns  for  one  sin 
as  well  as  for  a hundred. 

“ The  fourth  argument  is  taken  from  Deuteronomy  xxvii.  26,  ‘ Cursed 
be  he  that  confirmeth  not  all  the  words  of  this  law  to  do  them.’  Also, 
Galatians  iii.  10,  ‘ Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all  things 
which  are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law,  to  do  them.’  And  James  ii.  10, 


Methodist  Magazine,  1800,  pp.  219 — 223. 


76 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


' Whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law,  and  yet  offend  in  one  point,  he 
is  guilty  of  all.’  He  violates  the  law,  despises  the  law,  incurs  the 
punishment  threatened.” 

Passing  by  Fletcher’s  arguments  and  logic,  this  fugitive 
manuscript  is  of  some  importance,  as  intimating  not  only 
that  objections  were  made  to  Fletcher’s  doctrines,  but  also 
that  he  was  accustomed  publicly  to  notice  and  answer  them 
in  his  parish  church. 

Pdetcher  had  other  troubles  besides  those  arising  from 
objections  to  his  teaching.  In  his  Fast-day  sermon,  preached 
on  March  12,  1762,  he  had  cried  : — 

‘^‘Because  of  swearing  the  land  mourneth.’  If  the  prophet  of  old 
had  lived  in  our  degenerate  days,  he  would  have  added,  ‘ Because  of 
perjury  the  land  groaneth.’  To  go  no  farther  than  the  place  we  inhabit, 
how  many  of  us,  who  have  been  entrusted  with  public  offices,  have 
wilfully  broken  the  oaths  administered  unto  us  ? How  many  open  and 
notorious  drunkards,  fighters,  sabbath-breakers,  blasphemers  of  God’s 
Word,  and  cursors  of  men,  have  escaped  deserved  censure,  I shall  not 
say  by  the  accidental  neglect,  but  by  the  downright  perjury  of  officers  ?” 

This  bold  accusation  stimulated  one  of  Fletcher’s  young 
parishioners  to  put  the  law  in  force  against  one  of  the 
culpable  parish  officers  ; by  which  act  the  young  man 
brought  himself  into  trouble,  and  also  Fletcher,  who  pro- 
tected him. 

Further,  in  the  small  house  of  Mary  Matthews,  built  upon 
the  rock  in  Madeley  Wood,  Fletcher  had  begun  to  hold 
preaching  services  ; the  congregation  assembling  there  had 
been  called  ‘‘the  Rock  Church;”  and  Mary  Matthews  had 
been  fined  £20  for  permitting  such  assemblies  in  her  humble 
dwelling.  Fletcher  refers  to  these  incidents  in  the  following 
letter  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

''Madeley,  May  16,  1762. 

" Since  my  last,  our  troubles  have  increased.  A young  man  having 
put  in  force  the  Act,  for  suppressing  swearing,  against  a parish  officer, 
he  stirred  up  all  the  other  half  gentlemen  to  remove  him  from  the  parish. 
Here  I interposed,  and,  to  do  so  with  effect,  I took  the  young  man  into 
my  service.  By  God’s  grace,  I have  been  enabled  to  conduct  myself,  in 
this  matter,  so  as  to  give  them  no  handle  against  me ; and,  in  spite  of 
all  their  cabals,  I have  got  the  better  of  them. 

'‘What  has  greatly  encouraged  them  is  the  behaviour  of  a magi- 
strate, who  was  at  the  first  inclined  to  favour  me,  but  afterwards  turned 


Age  32.] 


U7ipublished  Letter  to  a Papist, 


77 


against  me  with  peculiar  malevolence,  and  proceeded  so  far  as  to 
threaten  me  and  all  my  flock  of  the  Rock  Church  with  imprisonment. 
Hitherto,  the  Lord  has  stood  by  me,  and  my  little  difficulties  are  nothing 
to  me  ; but  I fear  I support  them  rather  like  a philosopher  than  a Chris- 
tian. We  were  to  have  been  mobbed  with  a drum  last  Tuesday,  at  the 
Rock  Church  ; but  their  captain,  a papist,  behaved  himself  so  very  ill, 
that  they  were  ashamed  of  him,  and  are  made  peaceable  for  the 
present.”  ^ 

Fletcher  wrote  to  this  persecuting  papist  the  following 
letter,  which  is  now  for  the  first  time  published  : — 

*‘SiR, — The  indecent  and  profane  manner  in  which  you  broke  upon 
those  of  my  parishioners  who  came  to  me  for  private  exhortations  at 
Mrs.  Matthews’,  lays  me  under  an  absolute  obligation  to  present  you 
at  Ludlow  Court  as  a person  notoriously  guilty — i.  Of  drunkenness  ; 
2,  of  cursing ; 3,  of  disturbing  me  in  the  discharge  of  the  private  labours 
of  my  ministry  ; 4,  of  profane  disregard  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  Established 
Church ; 5,  of  want  of  respect  for  the  Royal  Family,  openly  intimated 
in  indecent  interruption  while  I prayed  for  them,  and  obliging  me  to 
get  up  from  my  knees  and  make  you  go  out  of  the  room  before  I could 
conclude  the  collect  in  peace ; and  6,  of  cursing,  and  making  game  of 
the  Third  Person  of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

“Though  I told  you  upon  the  spot,  that  you  should  be  informed  of 
for  your  profane  behaviour,  I think  it  my  duty  to  acquaint  you  of  it 
more  particularly,  that  you  may  prepare  your  answers  to  the  above 
mentioned  charges. 

“I  assure  you.  Sir,  that  malice,  or  any  private  pique,  is  entirely  out 
of  the  question.  I heartily  wish  you  well,  and  am  ready  to  do  you  any 
service  but  that  of  sacrificing  the  interests  of  religion  and  virtue  to  open 
profaneness  and  immorality. 

“The  following  considerations  weigh  much  with  me  to  make  me 
insist  on  the  churchwardens  putting  you  in  their  presentment ; and 
they  will,  I hope,  convince  you  that  I act  only  according  to  the  dictates 
of  Christian  prudence. 

“ I.  Most  of  the  things  laid  to  your  charge  were  grown  into  habit 
before  they  broke  out  in  my  presence.  It  is  not  the  first  time  that  you 
have  been  seen  in  liquor,  and  been  heard  to  use  profane  expressions,  and 
to  make  sport  of  the  things  of  God,  and  turn  my  labours  into  ridicule. 

“2.  So  public  an  olfence  absolutely  demands  a public  punishment, 
and  the  officers,  whom  I have  informed  of  your  behaviour,  must  be 
perjured  if  they  present  you  not,  and  an  irreparable  blow  will  be  given 
to  the  honour  of  religion  and  morality. 

“3.  The  regard  I have  for  our  Church,  and  the  peace  of  the  parish, 
obliges  me  to  resist  in  you  the  persecuting  spirit  of  opposition  your 
Church  is  so  noted  for. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  114. 


78 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


‘‘4.  Part  of  my  business  here  as  a clergyman  of  the  Church  of 
England  is  to  withstand  the  propagation  of  your  dangerous  principles, 
and  to  oppose  the  increase  of  the  blind  persecuting  zeal  which  some 
seem  to  breathe  after  you.  If  you  are  suffered  openly  to  excite  that 
profane  zeal  with  impunity,  how  will  your  misled  companions  be  con- 
firmed in  their  errors.  If  you,  who  have  so  many  laws  to  curb  you,  can 
offend  with  impunity,  how  daring  will  others  grow  in  wickedness. 

^‘5.  A person  of  note  in  the  parish  has  lately  undergone  the  severity 
of  the  law  for  part  of  the  above-mentioned  charges.  What  intolerable 
partiality  would  it  be  in  the  officers  and  me  to  take  no  notice  of  you  who 
are  guilty  of  the  whole. 

‘‘Lastly.  If  I do  not  get  you  presented,  I shall  for  ever  deprive 
myself  of  the  liberty  of  repressing  profaneness,  immorality,  and  perse- 
cution in  my  parish.  Every  drunkard,  every  swearer,  every  railer,  etc., 
etc.,  will  (and  not  without  reason)  say  to  me,  ‘You  could  spare  Mr. 
Haughton,  who  was  notoriously  guilty  of  our  errors  ; why  should  you  be 
stricter  with  Protestants  than  with  Papists  ? ’ 

“ I flatter  myself  that  these  reasons  will  convince  you  that  I am  led 
by  Christian  prudence  and  a calm  resolution  to  oppose  triumphing  pro- 
faneness, and  not  at  all  by  any  private  views  or  uncharitable  motives. 
And,  wishing  that,  if  you  are  convicted,  the  course  of  human  laws  may 
lead  you  to  the  harbour  of  temperance  and  piety, 

“ I remain,  Sir,  your  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

“J.  Fletcher.” 

Of  course,  opinions  differ  as  to  the  expediency  of  trying 
to  make  men  moral  by  Acts  of  Parliament  ; but  there  can 
be  no  doubt  of  Fletcher’s  Christian  sincerity  in  the  action 
he  took  against  Mr.  Haughton.  His  effort,  however,  was  a 
failure.  Writing  to  Charles  Wesley,  in  the  month  of  July, 

1 762,  he  said  : — 

“ Your  letter  arrived  some  days  too  late,  to  prevent  my  taking  a false 
step  respecting  the  papist  in  question.  Three  weeks  ago,  I went  to  Ludlow 
to  the  Bishop’s  visitation,  and  I thought  the  occasion  favourable  for  my 
purpose ; but  the  churchwardens,  when  we  were  on  the  spot,  refused  to 
support  me,  and  the  court  has  paid  no  regard  to  my  presentation.  Thus 
I have  gained  some  experience,  though  at  my  own  cost.  The  sermon 
did  not  touch  the  string  with  which  I was  whipped  at  the  last  visitation ; 
and  I afterwards  had  the  boldness  to  go  and  dine  with  the  Bishop. 

“ Many  of  my  parishioners  are  strangely  disconcerted  at  my  bringing 
my  gown  back  from  Ludlow.  With  respect  to  the  magistrate  I men- 
tioned to  you  in  my  last,  because  he  acted  as  judge  of  the  circuit  two 
years  ago,  he  now  believes  himself  as  able  a lawyer  as  Judge  Foster; 
but,  for  the  present,  he  contents  himself  with  threatenings.  I met  him 
the  other  day,  and,  after  he  had  called  me  Jesuit,  etc.,  and  menaced 
me  with  his  cane,  he  assured  me  that  he  would  soon  put  down  our 
assemblies.  How  ridiculous  is  this  impotent  rage  ! 


Age  32.] 


More  Persecutions, 


79 


I have  attempted  to  form  a Society,  and,  in  spite  of  much  opposition 
and  many  difficulties,  I hope  to  succeed.  I preach,  I exhort,  I pray ; 
but,  as  yet,  I seem  to  have  cast  the  net  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  ship. 
Lord  Jesus,  come  Thyself,  and  furnish  me  with  a Divine  commission  ! 

“ For  some  months  past,  I have  laboured  under  an  insuperable  drowsi- 
ness : I could  sleep  day  and  night ; and  the  hours  which  I ought  to 
employ  with  Christ  on  the  mount,  I spend  like  Peter  in  the  garden.”^ 

Poor  Fletcher's  troubles  continued  and  increased.  A month 
later,  he  wrote  again  to  Charles  Wesley,  as  follows  : — 

have  still  trials  of  all  sorts.  First,  spiritual  ones.  My  heart  is 
hard;  I have  not  that  contrition,  that  filial  fear,  that  sweet,  humble  melt- 
ing of  heart  before  the  Lord,  which  I consider  essential  to  Christianity. 

Secondly,  the  opposition  made  to  my  ministry  increases.  A young 
clergyman,  who  lives  in  Madeley  Wood,  where  he  has  great  influence, 
has  openly  declared  war  against  me,  by  pasting  on  the  church  door  a 
paper,  in  which  he  charges  me  with  rebellion,  schism,  and  being  a 
disturber  of  the  public  peace.  He  puts  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
gentlemen  of  the  parish  (as  they  term  themselves),  and,  supported  by 
the  Recorder  of  Wenlock,  he  is  determined  to  put  in  force  the  Conventicle 
Act  against  me.  A few  weeks  ago,  the  widow  who  lives  in  the  Rock 
Church,  and  a young  man,  who  read  and  prayed  in  my  absence,  were 
taken  up.  I attended  them  before  the  magistrate,  and  the  young  clergy- 
man with  his  troop  were  present.  They  called  me  Jesuit,  etc.  ; and 
the  magistrate  tried  to  frighten  me,  by  saying  that  he  would  put  the 
Act  in  force,  though  we  should  assemble  only  in  my  own  house.  I 
pleaded  my  cause  as  well  as  I could ; but,  seeing  he  was  determined 
to  hear  no  reason,  I told  him  he  must  do  as  he  pleased,  and  that,  if  the 
Act  in  question  concerned  us,  we  were  ready  to  suffer  all  its  rigours. 
In  his  rage,  he  went  the  next  day  to  Wenlock,  and  proposed  to  grant  a 
warrant  to  have  me  apprehended  ; but,  as  the  other  magistrates  were 
of  opinion  that  the  business  did  not  come  under  their  cognizance,  but 
belonged  to  the  Spiritual  Court,  he  was  obliged  to  swallow  his  spittle 
alone. 

“Mr.  Madan,^  whom  I have  consulted,  tells  me  the  Act  may  be 
enforced  against  the  mistress  of  the  house,  the  young  man,  and  all  who 
were  present.  The  churchwardens  talk  of  putting  me  in  the  Spiritual 
Court  for  meeting  in  houses,  etc. ; but  what  is  worst  of  all,  three  false 
witnesses  offer  to  prove  upon  oath  that  I am  a liar ; and  some  of  my 
followers  (as  they  are  called)  have  dishonoured  their  profession,  to  the 
great  joy  of  our  adversaries. 

“ In  the  midst  of  these  difficulties  I have  reason  to  bless  the  Lord, 
that  my  heart  is  not  troubled.  Forget  me  not  in  your  prayers.^’® 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  115. 

^ The  Rev.  Martin  Madan,  who,  before  he  became  a clergyman,  was 
a barrister-at-law. 

® Letters,  1791,  p.  117. 


8o 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1762. 


All  this  braggart  persecution  seems  to  have  ended  in 
threats.  Fletcher  wrote  again  to  Charles  Wesley,  on  Novem- 
ber 22,  1762  : — 

''The  debates  about  the  illegality  of  exhorting  in  houses  (although 
only  in  my  own  parish)  grew  some  time  ago  to  such  a height,  that  I 
was  obliged  to  lay  my  reasons  before  the  Bishop  ; but  his  lordship  very 
prudently  sends  me  no  answer.  I think  he  knows  not  how  to  disapprove, 
and  yet  dares  not  approve  this  methodistical  way  of  procedure.'’  ^ 

Such  is  a bird’s-eye  view  of  Fletcher’s  ministry  and  minis- 
terial trials  during  the  first  two  years  after  his  appointment 
to  the  living  of  Madeley  in  1760.  As  an  earnest  evangelical 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  he  almost  stood  alone. 
Shropshire  had  produced  one  like-minded  minister  ; but  he, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Hatton,  was  now  in  the  Isle  of  Man.  To  this 
gentleman,  Fletcher,  in  his  solitude,  wrote  as  follows  : — 

" Madeley,  August  4,  1762. 

" Rev.  Sir, — There  are  so  few  of  our  profession  in  this  county  who 
are  not  ashamed  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  of  the  Homilies  and  Articles 
of  our  Church,  that  it  gave  me  no  small  pleasure  to  hear  you  are  not 
led  away  with  the  generality  into  dry  empty  notions  of  morality  and 
formality, — the  two  legs  on  which  fashionable  religion  stalks  through 
this  so-called  Christian  land.  May  the  Lord  Jesus  convince  us  daily 
more  and  more,  by  His  Spirit,  of  sin  in  ourselves,  and  of  righteousness 
in  Him  ! May  we,  in  the  strength  of  our  dying  Samson,  pull  down  the 
buildings  of  self-righteousness,  though  the  consequence  should  be  to 
see  all  our  hopes  of  preferment  and  esteem  buried  in  the  ruins  ! May 
we  never  be  led  to  preach  another  Gospel  than  that  of  Christ ! ' He 

that  believeth  shall  be'  saved;  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned' 
(Mark  xvi.  16). 

"I  hope.  Sir,  you  will  not  be  discouraged.  Regard  not  the  wind, 
but  sow  your  seed  early  and  late  ; and  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  will  give 
the  increase,  as  seemeth  best  to  His  heavenly  wisdom.  I meet  with 
many  trials  in  my  parish,  but  our  faithful  Lord  opens  always  a door 
for  me  to  escape  ; and  so  He  will  for  you. 

" I should  be  thankful  to  Providence,  if  your  way  should  be  made 
plain  into  this  neighbourhood.  You  owe  yourself  to  Shropshire  in  par- 
ticular ; and  no  county  needs  hands  for  the  spiritual  harvest  more  than 
this  does.  I pray  that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  may  thrust  you  among  us. 

" I bespeak  a sermon  when  you  come  to  Salop  ; trusting  that  you  will 
not  be  ashamed  to  bear  witness  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  from  so 


Letters,  1791,  p.  124. 


Age  32.]  Gilpin  on  Fletcher' s Early  Ministry. 


81 


despised  a pulpit  as  that  of,  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate  and  weak  fellow 
servant  in  the  Gospel, 

‘'J.  Fletcher.”' 

Fletcher  longed  for  clerical  sympathy  and  co-operation  ; 
but  he  had  to  wait  for  them.  In  all  respects  his  position 
was  a trying  one.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Gilpin,  who  afterwards  was 
well  acquainted  with  him,  writes  : — 

Celebrated  for  the  extensive  ironworks  carried  on  within  its  limits, 
Madeley  was  remarkable  for  little  else  than  the  ignorance  and  profane- 
ness of  its  inhabitants,  among  whom  respect  to  man  was  as  rarely  to  be 
observed  as  piety  towards  God.  In  this  benighted  place,  the  Sabbath 
was  openly  profaned,  and  the  most  holy  things  contemptuously  trampled 
under  foot ; even  the  restraints  of  decency  were  violently  broken  through, 
and  the  external  form  of  religion  held  up  as  a subject  of  ridicule. 

Immediately  upon  his  settling  in  this  populous  village,  Mr.  Fletcher 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  vocation  with  an  extraordinary  degree  of 
earnestness  and  zeal.  He  saw  the  difficulties  of  his  situation,  and  the 
reproaches  to  which  he  should  be  exposed  by  a conscientious  discharge 
of  the  pastoral  office  ; but,  as  a steward  of  the  manifold  grace  of  God, 
he  faithfully  dispensed  the  word  of  life,  according  as  every  man  had 
need ; instructing  the  ignorant,  reasoning  with  gainsayers,  exhorting 
the  immoral,  and  rebuking  the  obstinate.  Not  content  with  discharging 
the  stated  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  he  counted  every  day  as  lost  in  which 
he  was  not  actually  employed  in  the  service  of  the  Church.  As  often  as 
a small  congregation  could  be  collected,  he  joyfully  proclaimed  to  them 
the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord,  whether  it  were  in  the  church,  in  a 
private  house,  or  in  the  open  air.” 

“ It  was  a common  thing,  in  his  parish,  for  young  persons  of  both 
sexes  to  meet  together  for  what  was  called  recreation  ; and  that  recrea- 
tion usually  continued  from  evening  to  morning,  consisting  chiefly  in 
dancing,  revelling,  drunkenness,  and  obscenity.  These  licentious  assem- 
blies he  considered  a disgrace  to  the  Christian  name,  and  determined 
to  exert  his  ministerial  authority  for  their  total  suppression.  Frequently 
he  burst  in  upon  them  with  a holy  indignation,  making  war  upon  Satan 
in  places  peculiarly  appropriated  to  his  service.” 

His  enemies  wrested  his  words,  misrepresented  his  actions,  and 
cast  out  his  name  as  evil ; but  whether  he  was  insulted  in  his  person, 
or  injured  in  his  property ; whether  he  was  attacked  with  open  abuse, 
or  pursued  by  secret  calumny,  he  walked  amid  the  most  violent  assaults 
of  his  enemies,  as  a man  invulnerable  ; and  while  his  firmness  discovered 
that  he  was  unhurt,  his  forbearance  testified  that  he  was  unoffended.” 

Had  he  aimed  at  celebrity  as  a public  speaker,  furnished  as  he  was 
with  the  united  powers  of  learning,  genius.,  and  taste,  he  might  have 


6 


Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  1829,  p.  175. 


82 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


succeeded  beyond  many  ; but  his  design  was  to  convert  and  not  to 
captivate  his  hearers;  to  secure  their  eternal  interests,  and  not  to  obtain 
their  momentary  applause.  Hence  his  ^speech  and  his  preaching  were 
not  with  enticing  words  of  man' s wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit  and  of  power  ' He  spake  as  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  taught 
as  one  having  Divine  authority.  There  was  an  energy  in  his  preaching 
that  was  irresistible..  His  subjects,,  his  language,  his  gestures,  the  tone 
of  his  voice,  and  the  turn  of  his  countenance,,  all  conspired  to  fix  the 
attention  and  affect  the  heart.  Without  aiming  at  sublimity,  he  was 
truly  sublime ; and  uncommonly  eloquent  without  affecting  the  orator.”  ^ 

Such  is  the  testimony  of  a gentleman  who,  for  a season, 
lived  in  Fletcher’s  house,  and  for  many  years  lived  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Fletcher’s  parish.  It  would  be  worse  than 
foolish  to  add  anything  to  it,  except  the  remarks  of  Fletcher’s 
friend  and  first  biographer,  John  Wesley  : — 

‘‘  Mr.  Fletcher  settled  at  Madeley  in  the  year  1760,  and  from  the 
beginning  he  was  a laborious  workman  in  his  Lord’s  vineyard.  At  his 
first  settling  there,  the  hearts  of  several  were  unaccountably  set  against 
him,  insomuch  that  he  was  constrained  to  warn  some  of  these  that  if 
they  did  not  repent  God  would  speedily  cut  them  off.  And  the  truth  of 
these  predictions  was  shown  over  and  over  by  the  signal  accomplishment 
of  them.^  But  no  opposition  could  hinder  him  from  going  on  his  Master’s 
work,  and  suppressing  vice  in  every  possible  manner.  Those  sinners 
who  endeavoured  to  hide  themselves  from  him  he  pursued  to  every  corner 
of  his  parish  by  all  sorts  of  means,  public  and  private,  early  and  late,  in 
season  and  out  of  season,  entreating  and  warning  them  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come.  Some  made  it  an  excuse  for  not  attending  church  that 
they  could  not  awake  early  enough  to  get  their  families  ready.  He  pro- 
vided for  this  also.  Taking  a bell  in  his  hand,  he  set  out  every  Sunday 
at  five  in  the  morning,  and  went  round  the  most  distant  parts  of  the 
parish,  inviting  all  the  inhabitants  to  the  house  of  God. 

‘Wet,  notwithstanding  all  the  pains  he  took,  he  saw  for  some  time 
little  fruit  of  his  labour;  insomuch  that  he  was  more  than  once  in  doubt 


* “ The  Portrait  of  St.  Paul.”^ 

^ Jonathan  Crowther,  President  of  the  Methodist  Conference  in  1819, 
relates,  in  his  unpublished  autobiography,  the  following  anecdote : “ Mrs. 
Fletcher  told  me  that  one  Sunday,  after  the  forenoon  service,  Mr.  Preston, 
a gentleman  farmer  near  Madeley,  very  grossly  insulted  Mr.  Fletcher  in 
the  churchyard,  and  evinced  great  enmity  against  his  faithful  ministry. 
In  his  sermon  in  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Fletcher  said,  he  had  a powerful 
impression  that  before  the  next  Sabbath  God  would  give  a signal  mark 
of  His  displeasure  against  the  enemies  of  His  cause  and  truth.  The 
week  was  drawing  to  a close  ; nothing  remarkable  had  happened  ; but 
on  Saturday  night,  Mr.  Preston,  when  returning  home  from  market  in  a 
state  of  intoxication,  fell  from  his  horse  and  died  on  the  spot.” 


Age  32.]  Wesky  on  Fletcher* s Early  Ministrv. 


83 


whether  he  had  not  mistaken  his  place  ; whether  God  had  indeed  called 
him  to  confine  himself  to  one  town,  or  to  labour  more  at  large  in  His 
vineyard.  He  was  not  free  from  this  doubt  when  a multitude  of  people 
flocked  together  at  a funeral.  He  seldom  let  these  awful  opportunities 
slip  without  giving  a solemn  exhortation.  At  the  close  of  the  exhorta- 
tion which  was  then  given,  one  man  was  so  grievously  offended  that 
he  could  not  refrain  from  breaking  out  into  scurrilous,  yea,  menacing 
language.  But,  notwithstanding  all  his  struggling  against  it,  the  Word 
fastened  upon  his  heart.  At  first,  indeed,  he  roared  like  a lion  ; but  he 
soon  wept  like  a child.  Not  long  after,  he  came  to  Mr.  Fletcher  in  the 
most  humble  manner,  asking  pardon  for  his  outrageous  behaviour,  and 
begging  an  interest  in  his  prayers.  This  was  such  a refreshment  as  he 
stood  in  need  of.  In  a short  time,  this  poor  broken-hearted  sinner  was 
filled  with  joy  unspeakable.  He  then  spared  no  pains  in  exhorting  his 
fellow- sinners  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

It  was  not  long  after,  when,  one  Sunday  evening,  Mr.  Fletcher,  after 
performing  the  usual  duty  at  Madeley,  was  about  to  set  out  for  Madeley 
Wood,  to  preach  and  catechise  as  usual.  But  just  then  notice  was 
brought  (which  should  have  been  given  before)  that  a child  was  to  be 
buried.  His  waiting  till  the  child  was  brought  prevented  his  going  to 
the  wood;  and  herein  the  providence  of  God  appeared.  For,, at  this 
very  time,  many  of  the  colliers,  who  neither  feared  God  nor  regarded 
men,  were  baiting  a bull  just  by  the  meeting-house ; and,_ having  had 
plenty  to  drink,  they  had  all  agreed,  as  soon  as  he  came,  to  bait'  the 
;parson.  Part  of  them  were  appointed  to  pull  him  off  his  horse,  and^the 
rest  to  set  the  dogs  upon  him.  One  of  these  very  nien  afterwayds-. con- 
fessed that  he  was  with  them  when  this  agreement  was  made  ; and  that 
afterwards,  while  they  were  in  the  most  horrid  manner  cursing  and 
swearing  at  their  disappointment,  a large  china  punch-bowl,  which  held 
above  a gallon,  without  any  apparent  cause  (for  it  was  not  touched  by 
any  person  or  thing)  fell  all  to  shivers.  This  so.  alarmed  him  that  he 
forsook  all  his  companions,  and  determined  to  save  his  own  soul.’’^ 


* Wesley’s  ^‘Life  of  Fletcher.,” 


84 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THREE  QUIET,  SUCCESSFUL  YEARS. 

1762 — 1765. 

IN  the  autumn  of  1762  Methodism  in  London  was  in 
perilous  confusion.  Two  years  before,  Wesley  had 
appointed  Thomas  Maxfield,  one  of  his  first  preachers,  to 
meet  a select  band,  who  professed  to  be  entirely  sanctified. 
Some  of  the  members  of  this  band  soon  had  dreams,  visions 
and  impressions,  as  they  thought,  from  God  ; and  Maxfield, 
instead  of  repressing  their  whimsies,  encouraged  them,  so 
that  their  vagaries  were  soon  regarded  as  proofs  of  the  highest 
state  of  grace.  Some  of  the  preachers  rebuked  these  visionaries. 
This  excited  resentment,  and  they  refused  to  hear  their 
rebukers  preach.  They  became  the  avowed  followers  of 
Maxfield,  who  told  them  they  were  not  to  be  taught  by  man, 
and  especially  by  those  who  had  less  grace  than  themselves. 
George  Bell,  converted  in  1758,  and  sanctified  in  1761, 
joined  them,  and  became  wilder  than  the  wildest  of  them. 
The  result  was,  when  Wesley  returned  to  London  in  October, 
1762,  he  found  the  Society  there  in  a disgraceful  uproar,  and 
the  followers  of  Maxfield  and  Bell  formed  into  a sort  of 
detached  connexion.^  They  called  themselves  ‘‘the  witnesses.'’ 
Wesley  and  his  brother  were  in  great  distress.  The  latter 
wrote  to  Fletcher,  and  received  the  following  reply  : — 

‘'Madeley,  September  20,  1762. 

Crede  quod  hahes,  et  habes'  is  not  very  different  from  those  words 
of  Christ,  ^ What  things  soever  ye  desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe  that 
ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  themi*  The  humble  reason  of  the 
believer,  and  the  irrational  presumption  of  the  enthusiast,  draw  this 


* For  a fuller  account  of  this  unhappy  schism,  see  Tyerman’s  ‘^Life 
and  Times  of  Wesley,’^  vol.  ii.,pp.  432-444. 


Age  33.]  Fanaticism  among  the  London  Methodists.  85 


doctrine  to  the  right  hand  or  the  left ; but  to  split  the  hair — ^here  lies  the 
difficulty.  I have  told  you  that  lam  no  ^arty  man  ; I am  neither  for 
nor  against  the  witness  for  Christian  perfection  without  examination, 

I complain  of  those  who  deceive  themselves  ; I honour  those  who  do 
honour  to  their  profession ; and  I wish  we  could  find  out  the  right  way 
of  reconciling  the  most  profound  humility  with  the  most  lively  hopes  of 
grace.  I think  you  insist  on  the  one  and  Maxfield  on  the  other;  and 
I believe  you  both  sincere  in  your  views.  God  bless  you  both  ; and  if 
either  of  you  goes  too  far,  may  the  Lord  bring  him  back  ! ^ 

Madeley,  November  22,  1762. 

Brother  Ley^  arrived  here  yesterday,  and  confirms  the  melancholy 
news  of  many  of  our  brethren  overshooting  sober  and  steady  Christianity 
in  London.  I feel  a great  deal  for  you  and  the  Church  in  these  critical 
circumstances.  Oh  that  I could  stand  in  the  gap  ! Oh  that  I could, 
by  sacrificing  myself,  shut  this  immense  abyss  of  enthusiasm  which  opens 
its  mouth  among  us  ! 

**  The  corruption  of  the  best  things  is  always  the  worst  of  corruptions. 
Going  into  an  extreme  of  this  nature,  or  only  winking  at  it,  will  give  an 
eternal  sanction  to  the  vile  aspersions  cast  on  all  sides  on  the  purest 
doctrines  of  Christianity  ; and  we  shall  sadly  overthrow,  overthrow  in 
the  worst  manner , what  we  have  endeavoured  to  build  for  many  years. 

I have  a particular  regard  for  Maxfield  and  Bell — both  of  them  are 
my  correspondents.  I am  strongly  prejudiced  in  favour  of  the  witnesses, 
and  do  not  willingly  receive  what  is  said  against  them  ; but  allowing 
that  what  is  reported  is  one-half  mere  exaggeration,  the  tenth  part  of 
the  rest  shows  that  spiritual  pride,  presumption,  arrogance,  stubborn- 
ness, party  spirit,  uncharitableness,  prophetic  mistakes,  in  short,  every 
sinew  of  enthusiasm  is  now  at  work  in  many  of  that  body.  I do  not 
credit  any  one’s  bare  word,  but  I ground  my  sentiments  on  Bell’s  own 
letters. 

May  I presume  to  lay  before  you  my  mite  of  observation  ? Would 
it  be  wrong  in  me  calmly  to  sit  down,  with  some  unprejudiced  friends 
and  lovers  of  both  parties,  and  to  fix  with  them  the  marks  and  symptoms 
of  enthusiasm ; and  then  insist,  at  first  in  love,  and  afterwards,  if  ne- 
cessary, with  all  the  weight  of  my  authority,  upon  those  who  have  them 
or  ;p  lead  for  them,  either  to  stand  to  the  sober  rule  of  Christianity,  or 
o;penly  to  depart  from  us  ? 

Fear  not,  dear  Sir,  the  Lord  will  take  care  of  the  ark.  Have  faith 
in  the  Word,  and  leave  the  rest  to  Providence.  ' The  Lord  will  provide  ’ 
is  a comfortable  motto  for  a believer.”  ^ 

Thus  by  proposing  to  act  as  mediator  between  the  Wesleys 
and  their  distracted  followers  in  London  did  Fletcher 


* Letters,  1791,  p.  12 1. 

2 One  of  Wesley’s  Itinerant  Preachers. 
^ Letters,  1791,  p.  126. 


86 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1762. 


end  the  eventful  year  of  1762.  In  the  middle  of  the 
year  he  told  Charles  Wesley  that  he  had  “ attempted  to 
form  a Society,”  and  hoped  to  succeed.  He  drew  up  rules 
for  this  Society.^  First  of  all,  he  described  “ the  nature  of 
a Religious  Society,”  and  quoted  Malachi  iii.  16,  Psalm  Ixvi. 
16;  Luke  viii.  1-3;  Acts  i.  [5,  ii.  42-4/;  Heb.  iii.  12, 
13,  X.  25;  Col.  Iii.  16;  I Cor.  xiv.  29-31  ; i Thess.  v. 
11-14;  James  v.  16;  and  Jude  i.  18-21.  ‘'Encouraged 
by  these  texts,”  said  he,  “ a few  of  us  design  to  unite  in  a 
Religious  Society  to  support  and  animate  each  other  in  the 
ways  of  godliness.”  He  proceeds  : — 

In  order  to  be  admitted  into  the  Society,  one  only  condition  is  pre- 
viously required,  namely,  a sincere  desire  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come, 
and  to  seek  salvation  from  the  servitude  of  sin  according  to  the  Gospel, 
and  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England,  especially  the 
ninth,  tenth,  eleventh,  twelfth,  and  thirteenth,  which  are  earnestly 
recommended  to  the  perusal  of  every  person  who  would  be  a member. 

‘‘It  is,  however,  expected  that  the  sincerity  of  such  a desire  be 
evinced  by  putting  on  the  form  of  godliness,  which  we  apprehend  to 
consist  in  three  things:  i.  Doing  no  harm,  Isa.  i.  16;  Rom.  xii.  9. 
2.  Doing  good,  Isa.  i.  17;  Rom.  xii.  9.  3.  Using  the  means  of  grace, 

Luke  i.  16,  Isa.  Iv.  6.’' 


^ He  also  drew  up  the  following  rules  of  daily  self-examination  for 
himself : — 

“ I.  Did  I awake  spiritual,  and  was  I watchful  in  keeping  my  mind 
from  wandering  this  morning  when  I was  rising  ? 

“2.  Have  I this  day  got  nearer  to  God  in  times  of  prayer,  or  have  I 
given  way  to  a lazy,  idle  spirit  ? 

“3.  Has  my  faith  been  weakened  by  unwatchfulness,  or  quickened 
by  diligence  this  day  ? 

“ 4.  Have  I this  day  walked  by  faith  and  eyed  God  in  all  things  ? 

“5.  Have  I denied  myself  in  all  unkind  words  and  thoughts  ; have  I 
delighted  in  seeing  others  preferred' before  me  ? 

“ 6.  Have  I made  the  most  of  my  precious  time,  as  far  as  I had  light, 
strength,  and  opportunity  ? 

“7.  Have  I kept  the  issues  of  my  heart  in  the  means  of  grace,  so  as 
to  profit  by  them  ? 

“8.  What  have  I done  this  day  for  the  souls  and  bodies  of  God’s  dear 
saints  ? 

“9.  Have  I laid  out  anything  to  please  myself  when  I might  have 
saved  the  money  for  the  cause  of  God  ? 

“10.  Have  I governed  well  my  tongue  this  day,  remembering  that 
‘ in  a multitude  of  words  there  wanteth  not  sin  ’ ? 

“ II.  In  how  many  instances  have  I denied  myself  this  day  ? 

“12.  Do  my  life  and  conversation  adorn  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 

2 “ Thirteen  Original  Letters,  by  the  Rev.  John  Fletcher.  Bath  : 1791,” 
p.  38. 


Age  33.]  Rules  of  Fletcher^ s Methodist  Societies. 


87 


Under  the  first  of  these  rules  Fletcher  mentions  “ taking 
the  Lord’s  name  in  vain,  either  by  profane  cursing,  swearing, 
or  trivial  exclamations  ; ” sabbath-breaking  ; uncleanness  ; 
drunkenness,  or  tippling,  or  going  into  a public  house,  or 
staying  without  necessity  ; fighting  ; quarrelling  ; brawling  ; 
railing,  uncharitable  conversation  ; filthy  talking  ; jesting  ; 
evil  speaking  ; attendance  at  balls,  plays,  races,  cock-fightings 
and  bull-baitings  ; gaming;  song-singing;  reading  unprofitable 
books;  softness;  needless  indulgence;  putting  on  gaudy  and 
costly  apparel ; smuggling;  taking  advantage  of  a neighbour, 
etc. 

Under  the  second,  he  includes  doing  good  to  the  bodies  of 
men ; doing  good  to  the  souls  of  men ; discountenancing  pro- 
faneness and  immorality  ; diligence  in  business  ; taking  up  the 
cross  daily,  etc. 

Under  the  third,  he  names,  the  public  worship  of  God  in 
the  church;  the  ministry  of  the  Word  either  read  or  expounded; 
the  Lord’s  Supper  ; family  prayer  ; private  prayer  ; Scripture 
reading  ; fasting  ; and  singing  hymns  and  psalms. 

It  is  needless  to  tell  Methodist  readers  that  Fletcher’s 
rules  are  substantially  the  same  as  the  rules  which  Wesley 
drew  up  and  published  for  the  Methodists  in  1743,  and 
which,  excepting  two  or  three  trivial  alterations,  introduced 
in  1744,  are  the  same  now  as  they  were  then.  Fletcher, 
however,  attached  an  Appendix  ” to  his  rules,  to  the 
following  effect : — 

1.  That  an^y  one  practising  the  Rules  is  to  give  in  his  or  her  name 
to  the  Director  of  the  Society  and  the  major  part  of  the  members  ; and 
they  shall  be  joyfully  admitted,  be  they  high  or  low,  old  or  young, 
learned  or  unlearned.  ’ ’ 

2.  If  any  member  fell  into  sin,  lie  must  be  expelled. 

3.  If  the  expelled  member  wished  to  be  re-admitted,  he  must  acknow- 
ledge his  error,  and  if,  after  a trial  of  three  months,  he  appeared  to  be 
reformed,  his  re-admission  should  take  place. 

4.  The  members  were  to  meet  together  one  evening  every  week 
between  seven  and  eight  o’clock. 

5.  They  were  to  watch  over  each  other  in  love. 

6.  They  were  not  to  be  angry  with  those  who  spoke  against  the 
Society. 

The  probability  is  that  Fletcher  did  not  print  his  Rules, 
as  Wesley  had  done.  Indeed,  there  was  no  need  for  this, 


88 


TVes ley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1763- 


as  his  Societies  v/ere  few  in  number,  and  existed  within  a 
comparatively  small  area.  It  was  an  easy  thing  for  Fletcher 
to  read  the  rules  to  each  Society  as  occasion  required,  and, 
perhaps,  they  were  inscribed  in  the  registers  of  attendance. 
Three  years  after  Fletcher's  death,  the  Rev.  Melville  Horne, 
his  successor  at  Madeley,  printed  and  published  them,  and 
stated,  in  a Preface,  that  Fletcher  drew  them  up  soon  after 
his  settlement  at  Madeley,  and  revised  and  corrected  them 
about  the  year  1777. 

In  another  production,  entitled  ‘‘  Heads  of  Examination 
for  Adult  Christians,"  Fletcher  set  up  a higher  standard  than 
his  “Rules"  contained.  The  following  is  an  abridgment 
of  the  questions  he  wished  his  people  to  propose  to 
themselves  : — 

Do  I feel  any  pride  ? Am  I dead  to  all  desire  of  praise  ? If  any 
despise  me,  do  I like  them  the  worse  for  it  ? Or  if  they  love  and 
approve  me,  do  I love  them  more  on  that  account  ? Is  Christ  the  life 
of  all  my  affections  and  designs,  as  my  soul  is  the  life  of  my  body  ? 
Have  I always  the  presence  of  God  ? Does  no  cloud  come  between 
God  and  the  eye  of  my  faith  ? Am  I saved  from  the  fear  of  man  ? Do 
I speak  plainly  to  all,  neither  fearing  their  frowns,  nor  seeking  their 
favours  ? Am  I always  ready  to  confess  Christ,  to  suffer  with  His 
people,  and  to  die  for  His  sake?  Do  I deny  myself  at  all  times,  and 
take  up  my  cross  ? Am  I willing  to  give  up  my  ease  and  convenience 
to  oblige  others,  or  do  I expect  them  to  conform  to  my  hours,  ways,  and 
customs  ? Are  my  bodily  senses  and  outward  things  all  sanctified  to 
me  ? Am  I poor  in  spirit  ? Have  I no  false  shame  in  approaching 
God  ? Do  I not  lean  to  my  own  understanding  ? Do  I esteem  every 
one  better  than  myself  ? Do  I never  take  that  glory  to  myself  which 
belongs  to  Christ  ? Does  meekness  bear  rule  over  all  my  tempers, 
affections,  and  desires  ? Do  I possess  resignation,  seeing  God  does, 
and  will  do,  all  for  my  good  ? Am  I temperate,  using  the  world,  and 
not  abusing  it  ? Am  I courteous,  not  severe  ; suiting  myself  to  all 
with  sweetness ; striving  to  give  no  one  pain,  but  to  gain  and  win  all 
for  their  good  ? Am  I vigilant,  redeeming  time,  and  taking  every 
opportunity  of  doing  good  ? Do  I perform  the  most  servile  offices,  such 
as  require  labour  and  humiliation,  with  cheerfulness  ? Do  I love  God 
with  all  my  heart  ? Do  I constantly  present  myself,  my  time,  my 
substance,  talents,  and  all  I have,  a living  sacrifice  ? Is  every  thought 
brought  into  subjection  to  Christ  ? Do  I love  my  neighbour  as  myself? 
Do  I think  no  evil,  listen  to  no  groundless  surmises,  nor  judge  from 
appearances  ? How  am  I in  my  sleep  ? If  Satan  presents  any  evil 
imagination,  does  my  will  immediately  resist  or  give  way  to  it  ? Do  I 
bear  the  infirmities  of  age  or  sickness  without  seeking  to  repair  the 


Age  33.] 


A Troublesome  Member. 


89 


decays  of  nature  by  strong  liquors  ? Or  do  I make  Christ  my  sole 
support,  casting  the  burden  of  a feeble  body  into  the  arms  of  His 
mercy  ? ^ 

This  was  the  life  Fletcher  himself  strove  to  live  ; and  this 
was  the  life  he  urged  his  Methodists  to  live. 

Fletcher's  Methodist  Society  at  Madeley  was  formed  as 
early  as  the  year  1762  ; and  one  of  its  members  soon  in- 
volved him  in  trouble.  Hence  the  following,  taken  from  a 
letter  addressed  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

‘‘Madeley,  January  ^763, 

“As  to  my  parish,  we  are  just  where  we  were.  We  look  for  our 
Pentecost,  but  we  do  not  pray  sufficiently  to  obtain  it.  We  are  left  in 
tolerable  quiet  by  all  but  the  sergeant,  who  sent  a constable  to  make 
enquiry  concerning  the  life  of  His  Majesty’s  subjects,  upon  information 
that  the  cry  of  murder  had  been  heard  in  my  house  on  Christmas  Day. 

“ This  report  originated  in  the  cries  of  a young  woman,  who  is  of  our 
Society,  and  whom  Satan  has  bound  for  some  months.  It  seems  to  me 
as  if  that  old  murderer  proposed  to  ruin  the  success  of  my  ministry  at 
Madeley,  as  he  did  in  London,  in  the  French  Church,  by  means  of 
Miss  A d. 

“ The  yo\mg  woman  here  emaciates  her  body  by  fastings  ; falls  into 
convulsions,  sometimes  in  the  church,  and  sometimes  in  our  private 
assemblies ; and  is  perpetually  tempted  to  suicide.  Her  constitution 
is  considerably  weakened,  as  well  as  her  understanding.  What  to  do 
in  this  case  I know  not ; for  those  who  are  tempted  in  this  manner  pay 
as  little  regard  to  reason  as  the  miserable  people  in  Bedlam.  Prayer 
and  fasting  are  our  only  resources.  We  propose  to  represent  her  case 
to  the  Lord  on  Tuesday  next,  and  on  all  the  following  Tuesdays.  Aid 
the  weakness  of  our  prayers  with  all  the  power  of  yours.”  ^ 

This  was  a greater  trial  to  Fletcher  than,  at  first  sight, 
appears.  It  seems  to  have  led  him  to  entertain  the  thought 
of  resigning  his  living.  More  than  six  months  afterwards, 
in  another  letter  to  Charles  Wesley^  he  wrote  : — 

‘^‘Madeley,  July  26,  1763. 

“ Everything  here  is  pretty  quiet  now.  Many  of  our  offences  die 
away ; though,  not  long  ago,  I had  trials  in  abundance.  One  of  them 
might  have  made  me  quit  Madeley  ; but  the  young  person  I mentioned 
as  being  sorely  tempted  of  the  devil,  is  happily  delivered.”  ^ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  434. 
Ibid,  1791,  p.  127. 
p.  133. 


90 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1763- 


Fletcher’s  life  at  Madeley,  during  the  year  1763,  seems  to 
have  been  a quiet  one.  Maxfield’s  quarrel  with  Wesley  still 
continued,  and  Fletcher  took  an  interest  in  it.  Wesley’s 
annoyance  was  great,  and  his  forbearance  with  the  London 
fanatics  exposed  him  to  the  censure  of  his  friends.  John 
Downes,  in  a letter  to  Joseph  Cownley,  wrote  : — 

I consider  the  follies  and  extravagance  of  the  witnesses  as  the 
devices  of  Satan,  to  cast  a blemish  upon  a real  work  of  God.  The  more 
I converse  with  the  solid  ones,  the  more  I long  to  experience  what  they 
do.  It  is  a state  worthy  of  a Christian.  As  to  the  follies  of  the  en- 
thusiasts, Mr.  Charles  hears  every  week  less  or  more.  He  threatens, 
but  cannot  find  in  his  heart  to  put  in  execution.  The  consequence  is, 
the  talk  of  all  the  town,  and  entertainment  for  the  newspapers.” 

On  February  i,  1763,  Charles  Wesley  wrote: — 

“Satan  has  made  sad  havoc  of  the  flock.  Four  years  ago,  I gave 
warning  of  the  flood  of  enthusiasm  which  has  now  overflowed  us.” 

A week  later  John  Wesley  remarked  : — 

“The  mask  is  thrown 'off.  George  Bell,  John  Dixon,  etc.,  have 
quitted  the  Society.  I wrote  to  Thomas  Maxfield,  but  was  not  favoured 
with  an  answer.  This  morning  I wrote  a second  time,  and  received  an 
answer  indeed  ! The  substance  is,  ‘ You  take  too  much  upon  you.’  ” ^ 

These  brief  extracts  are  given  to  indicate  the  great  com- 
motion that  at  this  time  existed.  The  excitement  was  not 
confined  to  London.  It  was  shared  by  Mr.  Samuel  Hatton 
and  Miss  Hatton,  both  of  them  Fletcher's  friends  and  corre- 
spondents, and  who  seem  to  have  resided  at  the  ancient  town 
of  Wenn,  about  twenty  miles  from  Madeley.  ^ In  a letter 
to  Miss  Hatton,  Fletcher  expressed  his  views,  as  follows  : — 

“Madeley,  March  14,  1763. 

“Mr.  Maxfield’s  reply  to  Mr.  Wesley  seems  to  me  just  in  some 
points,  and  in  others  too  severe.  Mr.  Wesley  is,  perhaps,  too  tenacious 
of  some  expressions,  and  too  prone  to  credit  what  he  wishes  concerning 
some  mistaken  witnesses  of  the  state  of  fathers  in  Christ.  Mr. 
Maxfield,  perhaps,  esteems  too  little  the  inestimable  privilege  of  being 
perfected  in  that  love  which  casts  out  fear.  But,  in  general,  I conceive 
that  it  would  be  better  for  babes,  or  young  men  in  Christ,  to  cry  for  a 


Tyerman’s  “Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  462. 
Letters,  1791,  p.  182. 


Age  33.]  Reasons  For  and  Against  Matrimony. 


91 


gTo\\th  in  grace,  than  to  dispute  whether  fathers  in  Christ  enjoy  such 
privileges.”  * 

A few  weeks  later,  in  a letter  to  Mr.  Samuel  Hatton, 
Fletcher  wrote  ; — 


“ :NL\oeley,  April  22,  1763. 

“ I am  quite  of  your  opinion  about  the  mischief  that  some  professors 
do  in  the  Church  of  Christ  under  the  mask  of  sanctity ; but  my  Master 
bids  me  bear  with  the  tares  until  the  harvest,  lest,  in  rooting  them  up,  I 
should  promiscuously  pull  up  the  wheat  also.  As  to  Mr.  Wesley’s 
system  of  perfection,  it  tends  rather  to  promote  humility  than  pride,  if 
I may  credit  his  description  of  it  in  the  lines  following : — 

“ ‘ Xow  let  me  gain  perfection’s  height. 

Now  let  me  into  nothing 

Be  less  than  nothing  in  Thy  sight. 

And  feel  that  Christ  is  all  in  all ! ’ 

“ More  than  this  I do  not  desire,  and  I hope  that,  short  of  this, 
nothing  will  satisfy  either  my  dear  friend  or  me.”  - 

The  following  letter,  to  Charles  Wesley,  refers  to  the  same 
disturbance  ; but  it  also  mentions  another  matter  of  great 
interest  Six  years  ago,  Fletcher  had  become  acquainted 
with  IMiss  Bosanquet.  During  the  present  year,  he  had  com- 
menced a correspondence,  in  the  highest  degree  religious,  with 
Miss  Hatton.  He  was  a lone  man.  living  among  colliers. 
He  had  lately  been  with  Charles  Wesley.  Charles  was  an 
eminently  social  man,  and  had  suggested  to  Fletcher  that  he 
would  do  well  to  msLvry.  Fletcher  replied  as  follows: — 

“Madeley,  September  g,  1763. 

“My  Dear  Sir, — I see  that  we  ought  to  learn  continually  to  cast 
our  burdens  upon  the  Lord,  who  alone  can  bear  them  without  fatigue 
and  pain.  If  Maxfield  returns,  the  Lord  may  correct  his  errors,  and 
give  him  so  to  insist  on  the  fruits  of  faith  as  to  prevent  antinomianism. 
I believe  him  sincere ; and,  though  obstinate  and  suspicious,  I am  per- 
suaded he  has  a true  desire  to  know  the  will  and  hve  the  life  of  God. 
I reply  in  the  same  words  you  quoted  to  me  in  one  of  your  letters, — 
‘ Don’t  be  afraid  of  a ^Teck,  for  Jesus  is  in  the  ship.’  After  the  most 
\dolent  storm,  the  Lord  \s*ill,  perhaps,  all  at  once,  bring  our  ship  into  the 
desired  haven. 

“ You  ask  me  a very  singular  question  with  respect  to  women ; I shall, 
however,  answer  it  with  a smile,  as  I suppose  you  asked  it.  You  miojit 
have  remarked  that,  for  some  days  before  I set  off  for  Madeley,  I con- 


* Letters,  1791,  p.  130. 


IdU,  p.  132. 


92 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1763- 


sidered  matrimony  with  a different  eye  to  what  I had  done ; and  the 
person  who  then  presented  herself  to  my  imagination  was  Miss  Bosanquet. 
Her  image  pursued  me  for  some  hours  the  last  day,  and  that  so  warmly, 
that  I should,  perhaps,  have  lost  my  peace  if  a suspicion  of  the  truth  of 
Juvenal’s  proverb,  ^ Veniunt  a dote  sagittae^  had  not  made  me  blush, 
fight,  and  fly  to  Jesus,  who  delivered  me  at  the  same  moment  from  her 
image  and  the  idea  of  marriage.  Since  that  time,  I have  been  more 
than  ever  on  my  guard  against  admitting  the  idea  of  matrimony,  some- 
times by  the  consideration  of  the  love  of  Jesus,  which  ought  to  be  my 
whole  felicity  ; and,  at  others,  by  the  following  reflections. 

It  is  true  that  the  Scripture  says  that  a good  wife  is  the  gift  of  the 
Lord  ; and  it  is  also  true  that  there  may  be  one  in  a thousand ; but  who 
would  put  in  a lottery  where  are  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  blanks 
to  one  prize  ? And,  suppose  I could  find  this  Phoenix,  this  woman  of  a 
thousand,  what  should  I gain  by  it  ? A distressing  refusal.  How  could 
she  choose  such  a man  as  I ? If,  notwithstanding  all  my  self-love,  I 
am  compelled  cordially  to  despise  myself,  could  I be  so  wanting  in 
generosity  as  to  expect  another  to  do  that  for  me,  which  I cannot  do 
for  myself — to  engage  to  love,  to  esteem,  and  to  honour  me  ? 

I will  throw  on  my  paper  some  reflections  which  the  last  paragraphs 
of  your  letter  gave  rise  to,  and  I beg  you  will  weigh  them  with  me  in 
the  balances  of  the  sanctuary. 


‘‘  Reasons  for  and 

'^1.  A tender  friendship  is,  after 
the  love  of  Christ,  the  greatest 
felicity  of  life  ; and  a happy  mar- 
riage is  nothing  but  such  a friend- 
ship between  two  persons  of  differ- 
ent sexes. 


‘‘2.  A wife  might  deliver  me 
from  the  difficulties  of  housekeep- 
ing, etc. 

''3.  Some  objections  and  scan- 
dals may  be  avoided  by  marriage. 

“ 4.  A pious  and  zealous  wife 
might  be  as  useful  as  myself ; 
nay,  she  might  be  much  more  so 
among  my  female  parishioners, 
who  greatly  want  an  inspectress. 


against  matrimony. 

* ‘ I . Death  will  shortly  end  all  par- 
ticular friendships.  The  happier 
the  state  of  marriage,  the  more 
afflicting  is  the  widowhood ; be- 
sides, we  may  try  a friend  and 
reject  him  after  trial ; but  we  can- 
not know  a wife  till  it  is  too  late 
to  part  with  her. 

‘‘2.  Marriage  brings  after  it  a 
hundred  cares  and  expenses ; chil- 
dren, a family,  etc. 

^^3.  If  matrimony  is  not  happy, 
it  is  the  most  fertile  source  of 
scandal. 

4.  I have  a thousand  to  one 
to  fear  that  a wife,  instead  of  being 
a help,  may  be  indolent,  and  con- 
sequently useless ; orhumoursome, 
haughty,  capricious,  and  conse- 
quently a heavy  curse. 

Farewell ! Yours, 

'‘J.  Fletcher.’^  ^ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  144. 


Age  34.  J 


The  Furious  Butcher  Humbled. 


93 


This  is  a curious  letter.  Eighteen  years  after  the  time 
when  it  was  written,  Fletcher  married  Miss  Bosanquet.  Pro- 
bably the  ‘‘reasons  for  matrimony”  had  been,  in  substance, 
suggested  by  Charles  Wesley.  Fletcher's  “ reasons  against 
matrimony”  were  undoubtedly  sincere,  but  they  were  unin- 
tentionally selfish,  and  were  unworthy  of  him.  Experience 
taught  him  wisdom. 

Before  proceeding  further,  a remarkable  occurrence  must 
be  noted.  The  church  at  Madeley  is  dedicated  to  St.  Michael, 
whose  feast-day  is  September  29.  On  that  day,  in  1763, 
Fletcher  preached  from  Dan.  iii.  14,  and  concluded  his  dis- 
course in  words  like  these  : — 

From  the  dedication  of  our  church,  from  days  set  apart  to  be  kept 
holy,  Satan  takes  occasion  to  enforce  the  worship  of  his  threefold  image, 
profit,  honour,  pleasure.  Now  remember  the  duty  of  God’s  people,  and 
quit  yourselves  like  men.  Some  petty  Nebuchadnezzars  have  sent  to 
gather  together,  not  princes,  but  drunken  men  ; and  have  set  up,  not  a 
golden  image,  no,  nor  a golden  calf,  but  a living  bull.^  O ye  that  fear 
God,  be  not  afraid  of  their  terror;  be  not  allured  by  their  music;  confess 
the  God  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego.  ‘ No  other  God  can 
deliver  after  this  sort,’  said  the  heathen;  and  give  me  leave  to  add, 

‘ No  other  God  can  punish  after  this  sort.’  The  burning  furnace  of  His 
indignation  is  heated  ; and  eternity  is  the  duration  of  its  torments.”  ^ 

The  way  in  which  Fletcher  was  led  to  preach  this  sermon 
on  “ the  Wake-Sunday”  was  told  by  himself,  and  the 
story,  after  his  death,  was  published  in  a small  tract,  entitled, 
“The  Furious  Butcher  Humbled:  a true  and  remarkable 
story,  as  related  by  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher,  Vicar  of 
Madeley.”  The  substance  of  it  was  also  inserted  in  the 
Evangelical  Magazine  for  the  year  1798.  From  that  account, 
the  following  is  taken. 

‘‘  One  Sunday,”  said  Mr.  Fletcher,  when  I had  done  reading  prayers 
at  Madeley,  I went  up  into  the  pulpit,  intending  to  preach  a sermon, 
which  I had  prepared  for  that  purpose  ; but  my  mind  was  so  confused, 
that  I could  not  recollect  either  my  text  or  any  part  of  my  sermon.  I 
was  afraid  I should  be  obliged  to  come  down  without  saying  anything. 
But,  having  recollected  myself  a little,  I thought  I would  say  something 
on  the  First  Lesson,  which  was  the  third  chapter  of  the  book  of  Daniel, 
containing  the  account  of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego  being 


^ The  reference  obviously  is  to  a bull-baiting. 
^ Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  76. 


94 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1763- 


cast  into  the  fiery  furnace.  I found,  in  doing  this,  such  extraordinary 
assistance  from  God,  and  such  a peculiar  enlargement  of  heart,  that  I 
supposed  there  must  be  some  peculiar  cause  of  it.  I therefore  desired, 
if  any  of  the  congregation  found  anything  particular,  they  would  acquaint 
me  with  it  in  the  ensuing  week. 

In  consequence  of  this,  the  Wednesday  after,  a woman  came  and 
gave  me  the  following  account — 

* I have  been  for  some  time  much  concerned  about  my  soul.  I have 
attended  the  church  at  all  opportunities,  and  have  spent  much  time  in 
private  prayer.  At  this,  my  husband  (who  is  a butcher)  has  been  exceed- 
ingly enraged,  and  has  threatened  me  severely  as  to  what  he  would  do  to 
me  if  I did  not  leave  olf  going  to  John  Fletcher’s  church  ; yea,  if  I dared 
to  go  again  to  any  religious  meetings  whatever.  When  I told  him  I 
could  not  in  conscience  refrain  from  going,  at  least,  to  the  parish  church, 
he  became  outrageous,  and  swore  dreadfully,  and  said,  if  I went  again, 
he  would  cut  my  throat  as  soon  as  I came  back.  This  made  me  cry  to 
God  that  He  would  support  me ; and,  though  I did  not  feel  any  great 
degree  of  comfort,  yet,  having  a sure  confidence  in  God,  I determined 
to  do  my  duty,  and  leave  the  event  to  Him.  Last  Sunday,  after  man}^ 
struggles  with  the  devil  and  my  own  heart,  I came  downstairs  ready 
for  church.  My  husband  said  he  should  not  cut  my  throat,  as  he  had 
intended,  but  he  would  heat  the  oven^  and  throw  me  into  it,  the  moment 
I came  home.  Notwithstanding  this  threat,  which  he  enforced  with 
many  bitter  oaths,  I went  to  church,  praying  all  the  way  that  God  would 
strengthen  me  to  suffer  whatever  might  befall  me.  While  you  were 
speaking  of  the  three  children  whom.  Nebuchadnezzar  cast  into  the 
burning  fiery  furnace,  I found  all  you  said  belonged  to  me,  God  applied 
every  word  to  my  heart ; and,  when  the  sermon  was  ended,  I thought, 
if  I had  a thousand  lives,  I could  lay  them  all  down  for  Him.  I felt  so 
filled  with  His  love  that  I hastened  home,  fully  determined  to  give 
myself  to  whatsoever  God  pleased ; nothing  doubting  that  He  either 
would  take  me  to  heaven,  if  He  suffered  me  to  be  burnt  to  death ; or 
that  He  would  in  some  way  deliver  me,  as  He  did  His  three  servants 
that  trusted  in  Him.  When  I got  to  my  own  door,  I saw  flames  issuing 
from  the  oven,  and  I expected  to  be  thrown  into  it  immediately.  I felt 
my  heart  rejoice,  that,  if  it  were  so,  the  will  of  the  Lord  would  be  done. 
I opened  the  door,  and,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  saw  my  husband  upon 
his  knees,  praying  for  the  forgiveness  of  his  sins.  He  caught  me  in  his 
arms  ; earnestly  begged  my  pardon  ; and  has  continued  diligently  seek- 
ing God  ever  since.’  ” 

Such  was  the  poor  woman’s  story.  After  listening  to  it, 
Fletcher  cried,  Now  I know  why  my  sermon  was  taken 
from  me,  namely,  that  God  might  thus  magnify  His  mercy.” 
Nothing  need  be  added,  except  that  to  attribute  these 
strange  occurrences  to  anything  less  than  the  direct  inter- 
ference of  Him  who  has  supreme  authority  over  all  human 


Age  34.] 


Thi'ee  Letters  to  Miss  Hatton, 


95 


minds  and  hearts  would  be  infidelity  of  the  most  impious 
kind. 

Nothing  is  known  of  Fletcher’s  life  during  the  year  1764. 
It  is  a singular  fact,  that  only  three  of  his  letters,  belonging 
to  this  period,  have  been  published,  and  these  were  all 
addressed  to  his  friend,  at  Wem,  Miss  Hatton.  They  are 
entirely  devoid  of  incident ; but  are  full  of  piety.  The 
following  are  extracts  : — 

''Madeley,  March  5,  1764.  Your  dulness  m private  prayer  arises 
from  the  want  of  familiar  friendship  with  Jesus.  To  obviate  it,  go  to 
your  closet,  as  if  you  were  going  to  meet  your  dearest  friend;  cast  your- 
self at  His  feet ; bemoan  your  coldness  ; extol  His  love  to  you ; and 
let  your  heart  break  with  a desire  to  love  Him.  Get  recollection, — a 
dwelling  within  ourselves, — a being  abstracted  from  the  creature,  and 
turned  towards  God.  For  want  of  such  a frame,,  our  times  of  prayer  are 
frequently  dry  and  useless ; imagination  prevails,  and  the  heart  wanders ; 
whereas  we  pass  easily  from  recollection  to  delightful  prayer."’* 

‘‘  Madeley,  September  3,  1764.  With  respect  to  the  hindrances  your 
worldly  business  lays  in  your  way,  the  following  means,  in  due  subordi- 
nation to  faith  in  Jesus,  may  he  of  service  to  you  — 

I.  Get  up  early  and  save  time,  before  you  go  to  business,  to  put  on 
the  whole  armour  of  God,  by  close  meditation  and  earnest  prayer. 

“2.  Consider  the  temptation  that  most  easily  besets  you,  whether  it 
be  hurry,  or  vanity,  or  lightness,  or  want  of  recollection  to  do  what  you 
do  as  unto  God. 

^‘3.  When  your  mind  has  been  drawn  aside,  do  not  fret,  or  let  your- 
self go  down  the  stream  of  nature,  as  if  it  were  vain  to  attempt  to  swim 
against  it ; but  confess  your  fault,  and  calmly  resume  your  former  endea- 
vour, but  with  more  humility  and  watchfulness. 

4.  Steal  from  business  now  and  then,  though  for  twaor  three  minutes 
only,  and,  in  the  corner  where  you  can  be  least  observed,  pour  out  your 
soul  in  confession  ; or  utter  a short  ejaculation  for  power  to  watch,  and 
to  believe  that  Jesus  can  keep  you  watching.”"^ 

‘‘Madeley,  December,  1764.  I am  sensible  how  I want  advice  in  a 
thousand  particulars,  and  how  incapable  I am  to  direct  anyane ; but 
the  following  obsen^ations  came  to  my  mind  on  the  reading  of  your 
letter,  and  I venture  to  send  them. 

“You  cannot  expect  to  attain  to  such  a carriage  as  will  please  all 
you  converse  with.  The  Son  of  God,  the  original  of  all  human  per- 
fection, was  blamed,  sometimes  for  His  silence,  and  sometimes  for  His 
speaking  ; and  shall  the  handmaid  be  above  her  Master  ? 

“There  is  no  sin  in  wearing  such  things  as  you  have  by  you,  if  they 
are  necessary  iox your  station,  and  characterize  your  rank. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  147. 
Ibid,  1791,  p.  151. 


96 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1764. 


There  is  no  sin  in  looking  cheerful.  ' Rejoice  evermore : ' and,  if  it 
is  our  duty  always  to  be  filled  with  joy,  it  is  our  duty  to  ajj>ear  what 
we  are  in  reality.  I hope,  however,  your  friends  know  how  to  distin- 
guish between  cheerfulness  and  levity. 

Beware  of  stiff  singularity  in  things  barely  indiferent : it  is  i^^^in 
disguise  ; and  it  is  so  much  the  more  dangerous  when  it  comes  recom- 
mended by  a serious,  self-denying,  religious  appearance. 

I hope  the  short-comings  of  some  about  you  will  not  prevent  you 
eyeing  the  prize  of  a glorious  conformity  to  our  blessed  Head.  . It  is  to 
be  feared  that  not  a few  of  those  who  profess  to  have  attained  it,  have 
mistaken  the  way.  They  are  still  something ; whereas  I apprehend 
that  an  important  step  towards  that  conformity  is  to  become  nothing ; 
or  rather,  with  St.  Paul, — to  become  in  our  own  eyes  the  chief  of 
sinners,  and  the  least  of  saints.*^  ^ 

These  fragmentary  extracts  are  of  some  importance,  be- 
cause they  indicate  the  matters  respecting  which  Fletcher 
was  consulted,  and  also  exhibit  his  own  habitual  frame  of 
mind. 

Before  leaving  the  year  1764,  one  incident  must  be  men- 
tioned, far  too  interesting  to  be  omitted.  So  far  as  there 
is  evidence  to  show,  there  had  been  no  interview,  and,  indeed, 
no  correspondence,  between  Fletcher  and  Wesley  since  the 
year  1 760,  when  Fletcher,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  Wesley, 
accepted  the  living  of  Madeley.  There  is  not  the  slightest 
proof  of  any  estrangement  of  affection  having  taken  place  ; 
but  Fletcher  had  been  too  much  occupied  to  visit  Wesley  in 
London  ; and  Wesley,  considering  the  opposition  Fletcher 
had  to  encounter,  had,  hitherto,  not  deemed  it  expedient  to 
visit  Fletcher  at  Madeley.  As  to  epistolary  correspondence, 
Charles  Wesley  was  Fletcher’s  chosen  adviser  ; and  that,  for 
the  present,  was  quite  enough.  The  Madeley  persecutions 
had  now  subsided  ; and,  hence,  in  the  month  of  July,  1764, 
the  Arch-Methodist  ventured  to  invade  the  parish  of  the 
Madeley  vicar.  He  wrote  : — 

1 764,.  Saturday,  July  21.  I rode  to  Bilbrook,  near  Wolverhampton, 
and  preached  at  between  two  and  three.  Thence  we  went  on  to  Madeley, 
an  exceedingly  pleasant  village,  encompassed  with  trees  and  hills.  It 
was  a great  comfort  to  me  to  converse  once  more  with  a Methodist  of 
the  old  tyj>e,  denying  himself,  taking  up  his  cross,  and  resolved  to  be 
* altogether  a Christian.’ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  153. 


Age  36.] 


Simplicity  of  Living. 


97 


“Sunday,  July  22.  At  ten,  Mr.  Fletcher  read  prayers,  and  I 
preached  on  those  words  in  the  Gospel,  ‘ I am  the  Good  Shepherd : 
the  Good  Shepherd  layeth  down  His  life  for  the  sheep/  The  church 
would  nothing  near  contain  the  congregation  ; but  a window  near  the 
pulpit  being  taken  down,  those  who  could  not  come  in  stood  in  the 
churchyard,  and  I believe  all  could  hear.  The  congregation,  they  said, 
used  to  be  much  smaller  in  the  afternoon  than  in  the  morning ; but 
I could  not  discern  the  least  difference,  either  in  number  or  seriousness. 
I found  employment  enough  for  the  intermediate  hours  in  praying  with 
various  companies  who  hung  about  the  house,  insatiably  hungering  and 
thirsting  after  the  good  word.  Mr.  Grimshaw,  at  his  first  coming  to 
Haworth,  had  not  such  a prospect  as  this.  There  are  many  adversaries 
indeed ; but  yet  they  cannot  shut  the  open  and  effectual  door. 

**  Monday,  July  23.  The  church  was  pretty  well  filled  even  at  five, 
and  many  stood  in  the  churchyard.  In  the  evening,  I preached  at 
Shrewsbury,  to  a large  congregation,  among  whom  were  several  men 
of  fortune.  I trust,  though  hitherto  we  seem  to  have  been  ploughing  on 
the  sand,  there  will  at  last  be  some  fruit.’^^ 

Wesley’s  first  visit  to  Madeley  was,  to  himself,  eminently 
satisfactory  ; and  his  report  of  it  shows  that,  notwithstanding 
the  “ many  adversaries,”  Fletcher’s  labours  had  been  crowned 
with  great  success. 

Truly  might  Wesley  designate  Fletcher  a Methodist  of 
the  old  type,  defiying  himself y and  taking  up  his  cross.”  The 
following  letter,  addressed  “ to  Mr.  Henry  Perronet,  at  Mr. 
Wright’s,  at  the  Boot,  in  Old  Street,  St.  Luke’s  Parish, 
London,”  will  partly  illustrate  Wesley’s  meaning, 

''Madeley,  November  6,  1765. 

"Sir, — I have  received  both  your  letter  and  Mr.  Charles  Wesley’s, 
and  shall  be  exceeding  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  oblige  or  serve  you  in 
anything  in  my  power. 

"As  you  seem  to  me  a stranger  to  the  situation  of  the  country,  I 
would  have  you  come  down  first,  and  choose  for  yourself  a spot  that 
may  suit  your  taste.  I live  here  in  a little  market-town,  three  or  four 
miles  from  the  foot  of  the  Wrekin,  at  the  south-east  of  that  hill ; so  that 
you  may  easily  take  a walk  or  ride  with  me  to  some  of  the  spots  or 
villages  where  you  may  prefer  to  fix  your  abode,  if  this  does  not  please 
you.  I live  alone  in  my  house,  having  neither  wife,  child,  nor  servant. 

I can,  therefore,  without  inconveniency,  spare  you  a room  in  the  mean- 
time. If  you  choose  to  provide  your  food,  you  shall  have  conveniences 
for  it ; if  you  choose  to  table  with  a neighbour,  as  I do,  you  may. 

"You  seem  to  be  cut  out  for  contemplation  and  retirement.  Sir; 


Wesley’s  Journal. 


7 


98 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1765. 


I hope  you  have  made  choice  of  Jesus  for  the  chief  subject  of  your  medi- 
tations. May  you  find  much  of  His  presence  everywhere  ! 

If  you  choose  to  venture  into  Shropshire,  you  may  take  the  Shrews- 
bury coach  at  the  Swan,  in  Lad  Lane,  somewhere  in  the  city,  and  in 
two  days  and  a half  you  will  be  at  Shiffnal,  eighteen  miles  short  of 
Shrewsbury,  and  three  from  Madeley.  If  you  send  me  word  when  you 
are  to  set  out,  I will  send  my  mare  to  meet  you  at  the  Red  Lion,  in 
Shiffnal,  the  day  that  the  coach  passes  through  the  town. 

That  the  Lord  may  direct  and  prosper  you  in  all  things  is  the  wish 
of.  Sir,  your  affectionate  servant  in  Christ, 

''J.  Fletcher.'’* 

As  a farther  illustration  of  Fletcher’s  simplicity  of  living, 
and  of  his  habitual  piety,  an  incident  may  be  introduced, 
belonging  to  about  this  period,  and  published  in  a sermon 
preached  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  Fletcher’s  widow, 
in  1816,  by  the  Rev.  John  Hodson.  Mr.  Hodson  says  : — 

few  days  ago,  I was  in  company  with  a pious  female,  who,  for 
many  years,  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  Fletcher.  She  said 
Mr.  Fletcher  sometimes  visited  a boarding-school  at  Madeley.  One 
morning  he  came  in  just  as  she  and  the  other  girls  had  sat  down  to 
breakfast.  He  said  but  little  while  the  meal  lasted,  but  when  it  was 
finished  he  spoke  to  each  girl  separately,  and  concluded  by  saying  to 
the  whole,  ‘ I have  waited  some  time  on  you  this  morning,  that  I might 
see  you  eat  your  breakfast ; and  I hope  you  will  visit  me  to-morrow 
morning,  and  see  how  I eat  mine.’  He  told  them  his  breakfast  hour 
was  seven  o’clock,  and  obtained  a promise  that  they  would  visit  him. 
Next  morning,  they  went  at  the  time  appointed,  and  seated  themselves  in 
the  kitchen.  Mr.  Fletcher  came  in,  quite  rejoiced  to  see  them.  On  the 
table  stood  a small  basin  of  milk  and  sops  of  bread.  Mr.  Fletcher  took 
the  basin  across  the  kitchen,  and  sat  down  on  an  old  bench.  He  then 
took  out  his  watch,  laid  it  before  him,  and  said,  ' My  dear  girls,  yester- 
day morning  I waited  on  you  a full  hour,  while  you  were  at  breakfast. 
I shall  take  as  much  time  this  morning  in  eating  my  breakfast  as  I 
usually  do,  if  not  rather  more.  Look  at  my  watch  ! ’ and  he  immediately 
began  to  eat,  and  continued  in  conversation  with  them.  When  he  had 
finished,  he  asked  them  how  long  he  had  been  at  breakfast.  They 
said,  ^Just  a minute  and  a half.  Sir.’  ‘Now,  my  dear  girls,’  said  he, 
‘ we  have  fifty- eight  minutes  of  the  hour  left ; ’ and  he  then  began  to 
sing,— 

“ ‘ Our  life  is  a dream  ! 

Our  time  as  a stream 

Glides  swiftly  away. 

And  the  fugitive,  moment  refuses  to  stay.’ 


Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine^  1825,  p.  744. 


Age  36.] 


Alexander  Mather. 


99 


After  this,  he  gave  them  a lecture  on  the  value  of  time,  and  the  worth 
of  the  soul.  They  then  all  knelt  down  in  prayer,  after  which  he  dis- 
missed them  with  impressions  on  the  mind  the  narrator  never  ceased  to 
remember.’’ 

At  Wesley’s  yearly  Conference  of  1765,  Alexander  Mather 
was  appointed  to  ‘‘  Salop  ” circuit,  with  William  Minethorpe 
as  his  colleague.  Mr.  Mather  was  now  in  the  thirty-third 
year  of  his  age.  During  the  last  eight  years,  he  had  been 
an  itinerant  preacher,  and  had  passed  through  strange  and 
painful  vicissitudes.  In  1760  his  circuit  had  been  “ Stafford- 
shire ; ” in  which  circuit  he  had  ‘‘  built  a preaching-house  at 
Darlaston,  and  hired  a large  building  at  Birmingham.”  He 
had  extended  his  labours  as  far  as  Shrewsbury,  Coventry, 
Stroud,  and  Painswick  ; and,  by  Wesley’s  directions,  had 
visited  the  ‘‘  Societies  ” in  Wales.  At  Birmingham,  Mather 
and  the  poor  Methodists  had  been  repeatedly  in  danger  of 
being  murdered  by  persecuting  crowds ; and  at  Wolver- 
hampton the  mob  had  pulled  down  the  newly-built  meeting- 
house ; and  had  threatened  to  do  the  same  at  Dudley, 
Darlaston,  and  Wednesbury.  He  had  also  preached  at  several 
places  in  Shropshire,  and  now,  in  1765,  the  county  was 
made  a Methodist  circuit,  in  which  he  was  appointed  to  act 
as  Wesley’s  ‘‘  Assistant.”  Fletcher  had  already  formed  two 
or  three  Societies,  which,  without  being  so  designated,  were, 
ipso  facto^  Methodist  Societies.  He  warmly  welcomed  Mather, 
and  was  more  than  willing  to  be  a Methodist  co-worker. 
Hence  the  following  letter  addressed  to  the  brave  itinerant  : — 

My  Dear  Brother, — I thank  you  for  your  last  favour.  If  I 
answered  not  your  former  letter  it  was  because  I was  in  expectation  of 
seeing  you — not  from  the  least  disregard.  I am  glad  you  enjoy  peace  at 
Wellington;  and  I hope  you  will  do  so  at  the  Trench  when  you  go  there. 
My  reasons  for  stopping  there  were  not  to  seize  upon  the  spot  first,  but 
to  fulfil  a promise  I made  to  the  people,  of  visiting  them.  I desire  you 
will  call  there  as  often  as  you  have  opportunity.  An  occasional  exhor- 
tation from  you  or  your  companion,^  at  the  Bank, 2 Dale,^  etc..,  will  be 
esteemed  a favour ; and  I hope  that  my  going,  as  Providence  directs, 
to  any  of  your  places  (leaving  to  you  the  management  of  the  Societies), 


1 William  Minethorpe,  Mather’s  colleague. 

2 A place  about  five  miles  from  Madeley,  where  Fletcher  had  gathered 
a small  Society. 

® Coalbrook  Dale. 


ICO 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1765- 


will  be  deemed  no  encroachment.  In  short,  we  need  not  make  fwo 
parties;  I know  but  heaven  below,  and  that  is  Jesus^s  love.  Let 
us  both  go  and  abide  in  it ; and  when  we  have  gathered  as  many  as  we 
can  to  go  with  us,  too  many  will  still  stay  behind. 

“ I find  there  are  in  the  ministry,  as  in  the  common  experience  of 
Christians,  times  which  may  be  compared  to  winter.  No  great  stir  is 
made  in  the  world  of  grace  beside  that  of  storms  and  offences,  and  the 
growth  of  the  trees  of  the  Lord  are  not  showy ; but  when  the  tender  buds 
of  brotherly  and  redeeming  love  begin  to  fill,  spring  is  at  hand.  The 
Lord  give  us  harvest  after  seed  time ! Let  us  wait  for  fruit,  as  the 
husbandman  ; and  remember,  that  he  who  believes  does  not  make  haste. 
The  love  of  Christ  be  with  us  all.  Pray  for 

‘‘ J.  Fletcher.''* 

Thus  began  Methodism  in  the  county  of  Salop,  which 
circuit,  in  1766,  contained  587  members.  It  is  only  right 
to  say,  however,  that,  in  the  Minutes  of  Conference,  the  name 
of  the  circuit  was,  in  that  year,  changed  to  “ Stafford- 
shire,”— a name  which  it  retained  till  1782,  though  it 
embraced  a number  of  towns  and  villages  in  the  county 
where  the  Madeley  vicar  lived  and  laboured. 

In  1765  Fletcher  made  two  evangelistic  visits.  The  first 
of  these  was  to  Breedon,  in  Leicestershire.  Walter  Sellon  had 
been  one  of  the  first  masters  of  Wesley’s  Kingswood  school, 
had  acted  as  one  of  Wesley’s  preachers,  and,  by  the  influence 
of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  had  received  episcopal  ordi- 
nation. At  this  period,  he  held  two  curacies,  one  at  Smisby 
and  the  other  at  Breedon-on-the-Hill.  His  churches  were 
generally  crowded,  and  his  ministry  was  attended  with  un- 
common power.  He  lived  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Hall,  of  Tonge, 
the  leader  of  Methodist  Society  classes  at  Breedon,  Worthing- 
ton, and  Diseworth,  and  who,  after  living  all  his  life  in  the 
fiouse  where  he  was  born,  peacefully  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  in 
the  year  1 8 1 3,  at  the  age  of  eighty -one.^  Of  course  Fletcher’s 
reputation  was  well  known  by  Sellon  ; and  now,  in  1^65,  for 
a brief  season,  they  exchanged  pulpits.  Immense  crowds 
assembled  ; and  exceedingly  picturesque  must  have  been  the 
sight  of  long  processions  of  pious  people  climbing  the  lofty 
hill  on  the  top  of  which  Breedon  church  was  built,  and 
singing  as  they  went  their  sweet  songs  of  Zion.  The  church 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  163. 

2 Methodist  Magazine y 1818,  pp.  49-57* 


Age  36.] 


Fletcher  at  Breedon, 


lOI 


was  crammed  when  Fletcher  preached  ; numbers  stood  out- 
side ; and  as  many  as  could  clambered  to  the  windows  to 
look  at  the  seraphic  minister  to  whom  they  wished  to  listen.^ 
Mr.  Benson,  in  his  ‘‘  Life  of  Fletcher,’’  relates  an  incident 
which  must  not  be  omitted  here.  Human  nature  is  the  same 
all  the  world  over,  and  throughout  all  generations. 

We  are  told  the  clerk  of  Breedon  church  was  offended 
because  the  crowds  attending  it  increased  his  labour  in 
cleaning  it.  Turning  his  worldly-wisdom  to  practical  account, 
he  began  to  charge  persons,  from  other  parishes,  a penny  each 
for  admission,  and  stood  at  the  church  door  to  collect  the 
money.  Whilst  he  was  doing  this,  Fletcher  was  prayerfully 
ascending  the  steep  hill,  and  reverentially  contemplating  the 
solemn  service  upon  which  he  was  about  to  enter.  One  of 
the  congregation  went  to  meet  him,  and  told  him  of  the 
clerk’s  worldliness.  Fletcher  was  shocked  at  the  behaviour 
of  his  ecclesiastical  subordinate,  and  hastening  up  the  steep 
ascent,  exclaimed,  ‘‘  I’ll  stop  his  proceeding.”  The  clerk, 
however,  was  more  nimble  than  the  priest.  Before  Fletcher 
could  reach  the  money-gate  the  clerk  was  in  his  desk,  ready 
to  read  responses  and  perform  all  the  other  duties  pertaining 
to  his  office.  Perhaps  he  thought  he  had  cleverly  escaped 
detection  and  reproof,  but  the  sordid  creature  was  mistaken. 
Fletcher  went  through  the  service,  and  then  remarked,  For 
sixteen  years  I have  not  been  so  moved  as  I have  been  to-day. 
I am  told  that  the  clerk  beneath  me  has  demanded,  and  has 
actually  received,  money  from  strangers  before  he  would 
suffer  them  to  enter  the  church.  I desire  all  who  have  paid 
the  money  to  come  to  me,  and  I will  return  what  they  have 
paid  ; and  as  to  this  iniquitous  clerk,  his  money  perish  with 
him  ! ” 

This  interesting  story  is  not  without  its  use,  for  it  exhibits 
Fletcher’s  almost  stern  fidelity,  and  also  the  spirit  of  parish 
clerks  more  than  a hundred  years  ago.  It  would  be  unfair, 
however,  to  ostracize  the  Breedon  official  as  one  whose 
worldly  wickedness  is  without  a parallel  ; for  there  is  little 
room  to  doubt  that  even  at  the  present  day  largess  is  often 
levied  upon  congregations,  if  not  by  responding  clerks,  by 


Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  1856,  pp.  36-38. 


102 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1765. 


doorkeepers  and  other  ofificials  belonging  to  the  ecclesiastical 
edifices  of  an  age  which  thinks  itself  greatly  in  advance  of  its 
predecessors. 

Fletcher  made  another  and  more  important  Gospel  tour 
during  the  year  1765.  For  the  first  time,  he  visited  Bath 
and  Bristol.  In  the  former  city,  Lady  Huntingdon  had 
erected  a chapel,  and  had  summoned  six  clergymen  of  the 
Church  of  England  to  assist  at  the  opening  ; namely.  White- 
field,  Romaine,  Venn,  Madan,  Shirley,  and  Townsend.  This 
took  place  on  October  6,  1765.^  Fletcher  came  after  them, 
and  preached  to  the  aristocratic  congregations  in  her  lady^ 
ship's  meeting-house  with  extraordinary  zeal  and  earnestness. 
The  Countess  wrote  : — 

Deep  and  awful  are  the  impressions  made  on  every  hand.  Dear 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  preaching  is  truly  apostolic.  The  Divine  blessing  accom- 
panies his  word  in  a very  remarkable  manner.  He  is  ever  at  his  work, 
is  amazingly  followed,  and  is  singularly  owned  of  God.”^ 

During  his  stay  at  Bath,  Fletcher  wrote  his  first  pastoral 
letter^  which  was  addressed,  “To  those  who  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  or  about  Madeley.  Peace  be  multiplied  to 
you  from  God  the  Father,  and  from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
through  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen.”  The 
letter  was  dated  “Bath,  October  30,  1765,”  and  the  follow- 
ing is  the  substance  of  it : — 

By  the  help  of  Divine  Providence,  and  the  assistance  of  your  prayers, 
I came  safe  hither  last  Saturday  se’^nnight.  I was  and  am  still  a good 
deal  weighed  down  under  the  sense  of  my  insufficiency  to  preach  the 
unspeakable  riches  of  Christ  to  poor  dying  souls.  This  place  is  the  seat 
of  Satan’s  gaudy  throne  ; but  the  Lord  hath  nevertheless  a few  names 
here  that  are  not  ashamed  of  Him,  both  among  the  poor  and  among  the 
rich.  There  are  not  many  of  the  latter,  but  blessed  be  God  for  any  one ! 
It  is  a great  miracle  if  one  camel  passes  through  the  eye  of  a needle;  or, 
in  other  words,  if  one  rich  person  enters  the  kingdom  of  God.  I thank 
God  that  none  of  you  are  rich  in  the  things  of  this  world.  You  are  freed 
from  a dreadful  snare,  even  from  Dives’  portion  in  this  world.  May 
you  know  the  happiness  of  your  state  ! It  is  a mercy  to  be  driven  to  the 
throne  of  grace  even  by  bodily  want,  and  to  live  in  dependence  on  Divine 
mercy  even  for  a morsel  of  bread. 


^ See  Life  of  Whitefield,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  489. 

^ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  469. 


Age  36  ] 


Fletcher^ s First  Pastoral  Letter. 


103 


I have  been  sowing  the  seed,  that  the  Lord  hath  given,  both  in  Bath 
and  Bristol ; and,  though  I have  not  been  able  to  discharge  my  office  as 
I would,  the  Lord  has  in  some  measure  stood  by  me,  and  overruled  my 
foolishness  and  helplessness.  I am  much  supported  by  the  thought 
that  'you  pray  for  me.’  With  regard  to  the  state  of  my  soul,  I find, 
blessed  be  God  ! that  as  my  day  is,  so  is  my  strength  to  travel  on,  with- 
out minding  much  either  good  or  bad  report. 

" My  absence  from  you  answers  two  good  ends  in  regard  of  me.  I 
feel  more  my  insufficiency,  and  the  need  of  being  daily  ordained  of  Christ 
to  preach  His  Gospel ; and  I shall  value  the  more  the  worth  of  my  privi- 
lege with  you  if  I return  safely  to  you.  I had  yesterday  a most  advan- 
tageous offer  made  me  of  going  free  of  cost  to  my  own  country,  to  see 
my  mother,  brothers,  and  sisters  in  the  flesh,  whom  I have  not  seen  for 
near  eighteen  years  ; but  I find  my  relations  in  the  spirit  are  nearer  and 
dearer  to  me  than  my  relations  in  the  flesh.  I have  therefore  refused 
the  kind  offer,  that  I might  return  to  you,  and  be  comforted  by  the  mutual 
faith  of  you  and  me. 

" I hope,  my  dear  brethren,  that  you  improve  much  under  the  ministry 
of  that  faithful  servant  of  God,  Mr.  Brown, ^ whom  Providence  blesses 
you  with.  Make  haste  to  gather  the  honey  of  knowledge  and  grace  as 
it  drops  from  his  lips  ; and  may  I find  the  hive  of  your  heart  so  full  of  it 
at  my  return,  that  I may  share  with  you  in  the  heavenly  store  ! 

" In  order  to  this,  entreat  the  Lord  to  stir  up  your  hunger  and  thirst 
after  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Jesus,  and  to  increase  your  desire  for  the 
sincere  milk  of  the  Word.  When  people  are  hungry  they  will  find  time 
to  go  to  their  meals  ; and  a good  appetite  does  not  think  a meal  a day 
too  much.  Be  not  satisfied  with  knowing  the  way  to  heaven,  but  walk 
in  it  constantly  and  joyfully.  Be  thoroughly  in  earnest.  You  may  impose 
upon  your  brethren  by  a formal  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace,  but 
you  cannot  deceive  the  Searcher  of  hearts.  Let  Him  then  see  your  heart 
struggling  towards  Him  ; and  if  you  fall  through  heaviness,  sloth,  or 
unbelief,  do  not  make  a bad  matter  worse  by  continuing  hopeless  in  the 
ditch  of  sin  and  guilt.  Up  and  away  to  the  blood  of  Jesus  ! It  will  not 
only  wash  away  the  guilt  of  past  sins,  but  strengthen  you  to  trample  all 
iniquity  under  foot  in  the  time  to  come.  Never  forget  that  the  soul  of 
the  diligent  shall  be  made  fat ; and  that  the  Lord  will  spue  the  lukewarm 
out  of  His  mouth.  Get,  therefore,  that  love  which  makes  you  diligent 
in  business,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord. 

" I beg  you  will  not  neglect  the  assembling  of  yourselves  together, 
and,  when  you  meet  in  Society,  be  neither  backward  nor  forward  to  speak. 
Let  every  one  esteem  himself  the  meanest  in  the  company,  and  be  glad 
to  sit  at  the  feet  of  the  lowest.  If  you  are  tempted  against  any  one, 
yield  not  to  the  temptation ; and  pray  for  much  of  that  love  which  hopeth 
all  things,  and  puts  the  best  constructions  even  upon  the  worst  of  things. 


^ A clergyman  whom  James  Ireland,  Esq.,  of  Brislington,  near  Bristol, 
had  obtained  to  supply  Fletcher’s  pulpit  at  Madeley.  See  a subsequent 
letter,  dated  April  27,  1767. 


104 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1765. 


I beg,  for  Christ’s  sake,  I may  find  no  division  and  no  oifence  among 
you  at  my  return.  ‘If  there  be  any  consolation  in  Christ,  if  any  comfort 
of  love,  if  any  fellowship  of  the  Spirit,  if  any  bowels  of  mercy,  fulfil  ye  my 
joy,  that  ye  be  like-minded,  having  the  same  love,  being  of  one  accord, 
of  one  mind.  Let  nothing  be  done  through  strife  or  vainglory  ; but  in 
lowliness  of  mind  let  each  esteem  the  others  better  than  himself.’ 

“ I earnestly  beg  the  continuance  of  your  prayers  for  me,  that  the  Lord 
may  keep  me  from  hurting  His  cause  in  these  parts,  and  that  when  Pro- 
vidence shall  bring  me  back  among  you  (which  I hope  will  be  this  day 
fortnight),  I may  be  thoroughly  furnished  for  every  good  word  and  work. 
That  the  blessing  of  God  may  crown  all  your  hearts  and  your  meetings, 
is  the  earnest  prayer  of,  my  very  dear  brethren, 

“ Your  unworthy  servant  in  the  Gospel  of  our  common  Lord, 

“John  Fletcher. 

“ P.S. — I had  not  time  to  finish  this  letter  yesterday,  being  called 
upon  to  preach  in  a market  town  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  dragon 
showed  some  of  his  spite  and  venom  to  little  purpose.  A gentleman 
churchwarden  would  hinder  my  getting  into  the  pulpit,  and,  in  order  to 
this,  cursed  and  swore,  and  took  another  gentleman  by  the  collar  in 
the  middle  of  the  church.  Notwithstanding  his  rage,  I preached.  May 
the  Lord  raise  in  power  what  was  sown  in  weakness  ! ” ^ 

From  this  interesting  letter,  it  appears  that  Fletcher  spent 
four  Sundays  at  Bath  and  Bristol.  No  doubt,  he  was  the 
guest  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  ; but,  at  the  same  time, 
he  formed  an  acquaintance  with  the  excellent  James  Ireland, 
Esq.,  of  Brislington,  with  whom  he  commenced  a correspond- 
ence two  or  three  months  afterwards,  which  was  continued 
to  the  end  of  life.  There  can  hardly  be  a doubt  that 
Mr.  Ireland  was  the  gentleman  who  offered  to  take  Fletcher 
to  Switzerland,  free  of  cost.  At  this  time,  Mr.  Ireland’s 
daughter  was  out  of  health,  and  for  many  years  afterwards 
he  was  accustomed  to  go  to  the  south  of  France  for  the 
benefit  of  himself  and  his  family. 

Eighteen  years  had  elapsed  since  Fletcher  had  seen  his 
mother,  his  brothers,  and  his  sisters,  and  of  course  he  wished 
to  visit  them  ; but  there  was  his  work  at  Madeley,  and 
that  was  enough  to  make  him  forego  what,  under  other 
circumstances,  must  have  been  an  unspeakable  pleasure. 
Some  will  accuse  him  of  the  want  of  natural  affection,  and 
will  say  he  owed  duties  to  his  distant  and  long  unseen 


* “Thirteen  Original  Letters.”  By  the  Rev.  J.  Fletcher.  Bath: 
179T,  p.  10. 


Age  36.] 


Fletcher  and  h^s  Relatives, 


105 


relatives,  as  well  as  to  his  parishioners.  Probably,  in  answer 
to  such  a charge,  he  would  have  quoted  the  words  of  his 
supreme  Master  : “ Who  is  my  mother  ? and  who  are  my 
brethren  } Whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  which 
is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother.” 

It  is  evident,  from  Fletcher’s  pastoral  epistle,  that  his 
preaching  in  the  west  of  England  was  not  confined  to  Bath 
and  Bristol ; but,  except  the  disgraceful  incident  of  the 
profane  churchwarden  swearing  and  almost  fighting  to  keep 
him  out  of  the  pulpit  of  a church  in  some  neighbouring 
market  town,  no  details  of  his  tour  have  been  preserved. 
The  letters  and  journals  of  Wesley  and  Whitefieid  abound 
with  facts  and  adventures,  full  of  interest  and  instruction  : 
the  letters  of  Fletcher  were  of  another  character.  They  are 
rich  in  truth  and  piety;  but  not  always  in  materials  for 
biography.  His  habitual  self-abnegation  kept  in  the  shade 
thousands  of  facts  which  the  curiosity  of  the  Christian  world 
would  like  to  know. 

The  first  two  years  he  spent  at  Madeley  were  rough  and 
stormy.  He  worked  with  all  his  might,  but  with  small 
results.  The  next  three  years  were  comparatively  calm  and 
prosperous.  Opposition  gradually  died  His  labours  were 
attended  with  success.  He  formed  several  Societies  of  con- 
verted people  ; and  his  friend  Wesley  made  the  county  of 
Salop  a Methodist  circuit.  For  nearly  five  years  he  had 
confined  his  evangelistic  efforts  to  his  own  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood ; after  this,  to  a considerable  extent,  he  became 
an  itinerant.  Let  us  follow  him. 


io6 


Wesley* s Designated  Successor. 


[1766. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

TWO  YEARS  MORE. 

1766  AND  1767. 

Fletcher  began  the  year  1766  in  mournfulness,  and 
yet  full  of  love  and  loyalty  to  Christ.  In  a letter  to 
Miss  Hatton,  he  wrote  : — 

‘'Madeley,  January  13,  1766. 

Madam, — This  evening  I have  buried  one  of  the  warmest  opposers 
of  my  ministry — a stout,  strong  young  man,  aged  twenty-four  years. 
About  three  months  ago,  he  came  to  the  churchyard  with  a corpse,  but 
refused  to  come  into  the  church.  When  the  burial  was  over,  I went  to 
him,  and  mildly  expostulated  with  him.  His  constant  answer  was,  that 
he  had  bound  himself  never  to  come  to  church  while  I was  there  ; adding, 
that  he  would  take  the  consequences.  Seeing  I got  nothing,  I left  him, 
saying,  with  uncommon  warmth,  though,  as  far  as  I can  remember, 
without  the  least  touch  of  resentment,  ‘ I am  clear  of  your  blood ; hence- 
forth it  is  upon  your  own  head ; you  will  not  come  to  church  upon  your 
legs,  prepare  to  come  upon  your  neighbours'  shoulders  /'  He  wasted 
from  that  time,  and,  to  my  great  surprise,  has  been  buried  on  the  spot 
where  we  were  when  the  conversation  passed  between  us.  When  I 
visited  him  in  his  sickness,  he  seemed  tame,  as  a wolf  in  a trap.  O may 
God  have  turned  him  into  a sheep  in  his  last  hours  ! 

‘‘  This  last  year  has  been  the  worst  I have  had  here, — barren  in  con- 
victions, fruitful  in  backslidings. 

‘‘I  have  filled  my  page,  but  not  with  the  name  of  Jesus.  Let  your 
heart  contain  what  my  letter  wants, — Jesus  and  His  T'^ecious  blood, — 
Jesus  and  His  free,  glorious  salvation.  Live  to  Him  ; breathe  for 
Him  ; buy,  sell,  eat,  drink,  read,  write  for  Him.  Receive  Him  2iS yours 
altogether,  and  give  Him  your  whole  self.  Take  us.  Lord,  into  Thy 
gracious  favour ; stamp  us  with  Thy  glorious  image,  and  conduct  us  to 
Thy  eternal  kingdom  ! ^ 

Fletcher  was  depressed.  His  labours  at  Madeley,  during 
the  past  year,  had  not  been  fruitful  ; and  concerning  his  suc- 


Letters,  1791,  p.  165. 


Age  36.]  Rejoicing  on  Account  of  other  Men  s Success.  107 


cess  even  at  Bath  he  was  doubtful.  Mr.  Brown,  his  temporary- 
curate,  however,  seems  to  have  been  useful  ; and  so  also  were 
Wesley's  itinerant  evangelists;  on  account  of  which  he  thank- 
fully rejoiced.  In  another  letter  to  Miss  Hatton,  he  wrote: — 

''Madeley,  May  27,  1766. 

The  coming  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  preachers  into  my  parish  gives  me  no 
uneasiness.  As  I am  sensible  that  everybody  does  better,  and  is  more 
acceptable  than  myself,  I should  be  sorry  to  deprive  any  one  of  a bless- 
ing; and  I rejoice  that  the  work  of  God  goes  on,  by  any  instrument, 
or  in  any  ^lace.  How  far  it  might  have  been  expedient  to  have  post- 
poned preaching  regularly  in  my  parish,  till  the  minister  of had 

been  reconciled  to  the  invasion  of  his ; and  how  far  this  might  have 
made  my  way  smoother,  I do  not  pretend  to  determine  ; time  will  show 
it,  and  in  the  meanwhile  I find  it  good  to  have  faith  in  Providence. 

''  I fear  I have  left  as  great  a stink  at  Bath  as  Mr.  Brown  a sweet 
savour  here.  Everything  is  good  to  me  that  shows  me  my  unprofitable- 
ness ; but  I desire  to  grieve,  that  the  good  of  my  private  humiliation  is 
so  much  overbalanced  by  the  loss  of  many  about  me.”  ^ 

Thus  did  Fletcher  depreciate  himself.  The  truth  is,  he 
was  in  feeble  health,  and  hardly  knew  it.  At  this  time,  also, 
two  of  his  dear  friends  were  dying — Miss  Hatton,  of  Wem, 
and  Miss  Ireland,  the  only  daughter  of  James  Ireland,  Esq., 
of  Brislington,  Bristol.  Miss  Hatton  had  been  at  Madeley, 
and  Miss  Ireland  was  about  to  migrate  to  the  south  of 
France.  To  these  ladies,  he  wrote  as  follows  : — 

''  Madeley,  June  21,  1766. 

My  Dear  Friend, — I am  much  concerned  to  hear,  by  Mrs.  Tower, 
that  you  are  so  weak ; but  my  concern  has  greatly  increased,  since  I 
was  told  that  the  foundation  of  your  illness  was  laid  at  Madeley ; and, 
I am  afraid,  by  my  imprudence  in  taking  you  to  the  woman  with  whom 
we  received  the  sacrament.  I ask  God’s  pardon  and  yours  for  it ; and 
I hope  it  will  be  the  means  of  humbling  me,  and  of  making  me  more 
tender  of  my  friends. 

“The  advice  you  give  me  about  my  health  is  seasonable.  I hope  to 
follow  it.  I am  not  conscious  of  having  neglected  it ; but  I will  endea- 
vour that  there  be  not  so  much  as  the  shadow  of  a call  for  repeating  it. 

“ If  the  air  at  Wem  does  not  agree  with  you,  could  you  not  come  to 
Madeley  ? Though  I am  no  nurse,  and  though  I have  been  the  con- 
trary of  one  to  you,  I hope  we  should  wait  upon  you  with  more  tenderness 
than  when  you  were  here  last.  Mrs.  Power  would  nurse  you,  and  I 
would  talk  to  you  of  the  love  of  Jesus  as  well  as  I could.  You  know 


‘ Letters,  1791,  p.  169. 


io8 


JVesley’ s Designated  Successor. 


[1766. 


I perceived  your  bodily  weakness  when  you  were  here,  and  charged  you 
with  a neglect  of  your  body.  If  I was  right,  I hope  you  will  follow  the 
advice  you  give  me. 

Offer  yourself  to  God  for  life  or  death,  for  ease  or  pain,  for  strength 
or  weakness.  Let  Him  choose  or  refuse  for  you ; only  do  you  choose 
Him  for  your  present  and  eternal  portion.^ ^ * 

Seven  months  after  this,  Miss  Hatton  peacefully  expired.^ 
Miss  Ireland  lived  more  than  two  years  longer.  To  her,  he 
wrote  the  following  : — 


Madeley,  July  — , 1766. 

My  very  dear  Friend, — The  poor  account  your  father  has  brought 
us  of  your  health,  and  his  apprehensions  of  not  seeing  you  any  more, 
before  that  solemn  day  when  all  people,  nations,  and  tongues  shall 
stand  together  at  the  bar  of  God,  make  me  venture  to  send  you  a few 
lines. 

First,  then,  my  dear  friend,  let  me  beseech  you  not  to  flatter  your- 
self with  the  hopes  of  living  long  here  on  earth.  These  hopes  fill  us 
with  worldly  thoughts,  and  make  us  backward  to  prepare  for  our  change. 
I would  not,  for  the  world,  entertain  such  thoughts  about  myself.  I 
have  now,  in  my  parish,  a young  man  who  has  been  two  years  under 
the  surgeon’s  hands.  Since  he  was  given  up,  about  two  months  ago, 
he  has  fled  to  the  Lord,  and  has  found  in  Him  that  saving  health,  which 
a thousand  times  surpasses  that  with  which  the  surgeon  flattered  him  ; 
and  he  now  longs  to  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better. 

Secondly.  Consider,  my  dear,  how  good  the  Lord  is  to  call  you  to 
be  transplanted  into  a better  world,  before  you  have  taken  deeper  root 
in  this  sinful  world.  If  it  is  hard  to  nature  to  die  now,  how  much 
harder  would  it  be  if  you  lived  to  be  the  mother  of  a family,  and  to 
cleave  to  earth  by  the  ties  of  new  relations,  schemes  of  gain,  or  prospects 
of  success ! 

Thirdly.  Reflect  that,  by  your  illness,  the  Lord,  who  forecasts  for 
us,  intimates  that  long  life  would  not  be  for  His  glory,  nor  your  happi- 
ness. I believe  He  takes  many  young  people  from  the  evil  to  come, 
and  out  of  the  way  of  those  temptations,  or  misfortunes,  which  would 
have  made  them  miserable  in  time  and  in  eternity. 

Fourthly.  Your  earthly  father  loves  you  much : witness  the  hun- 
dreds of  miles  he  has  gone  for  the  benefit  of  your  health  ; but  your 
heavenly  Father  loves  you  a thousand  times  better;  and  He  is  all 
wisdom,  as  well  as  all  goodness.  Allow,  then,  such  a loving,  gracious 
Father  to  chose  for  you  ; and,  if  He  chooses  death,  acquiesce,  and  say, 
‘ Good  is  the  will  of  the  Lord  ! His  choice  must  be  best ! ’ 

‘‘  Fifthly.  Weigh  the  sinfulness  of  sin,  both  original  and  actual,  and 
firmly  believe  the  wages  of  sin  is  death.  This  will  make  you  patiently 


Letters,  1791,  p.  170. 


Ihidy  p.  190. 


Age  36.] 


Letters  to  Young  Ladies. 


109 


accept  the  punishment ; especially  if  you  consider  that  Jesus  Christ,  by 
dying  for  us,  has  taken  away  the  sting  of  death,  and  turned  the  grave 
into  a passage  to  a blessed  eternity. 

Sixthly.  Try  to  get  nearer  to  the  dear  Redeemer.  He  oifers  rest  to 
the  heavy  laden,  pardon  to  the  guilty,  strength  to  the  feeble,  and  life  to 
the  dead. 

Seventhly.  When  you  have  considered  your  lost  state,  as  a sinner, 
together  with  the  greatness,  the  freeness,  and  the  suitableness  of  Christ’s 
salvation,  believe  in  Him.  Be  not  afraid  to  venture  upon  and  trust  in 
Him.  Cast  yourself  on  Him  by  frequent  acts  of  reliance,  and  stay  your 
soul  on  Him  by  means  of  His  promises.  Pray  much  for  faith,  and  be 
not  afraid  of  accepting,  using,  and  thanking  God  for  a little. 

Eighthly.  Beware  of  impatience,  repining,  and  peevishness,  which 
are  the  sins  of  sick  people.  Be  gentle,  easy  to  be  pleased,  and  resigned 
as  the  bleeding  Lamb  of  God.  Wrong  tempers  indulged,  grieve,  if  they 
do  not  quench,  the  Spirit. 

Ninthly.  Do  not  repine  at  being  in  a strange  country,  far  from 
your  friends ; and,  if  your  going  to  France  does  not  answer  the  end 
proposed  for  your  body,  it  will  answer  a spiritual  end  to  your  soul. 

''  Tenthly.  In  praying,  reading,  hearing  any  person  read,  and  medi- 
tating, do  not  consult  feeble,  fainting,  weary  flesh  and  blood ; for,  at 
this  rate,  death  may  And  you  idle,  and  supine,  instead  of  striving  to 
enter  in  at  the  strait  gate ; and,  when  your  strength  and  vigour  fail, 
remember  that  the  Lord  is  the  strength  of  your  life  and  your  portion 
for  ever.”  ^ 

Not  many  even  faithful  ministers  of  Christ  would  have 
written  in  such  a strain  as  this  to  a young  lady,  the  daughter 
of  a wealthy  merchant,  leaving  her  native  land,  and  ap- 
parently dying  ; but  Fletcher,  like  all  the  first  Methodists, 
was  intensely  in  earnest,  and  never  thought  of  sacrificing 
fidelity  for  the  sake  of  seeming  courtesy. 

The  young  lady’s  father  had  given  Fletcher  a hamper  of 
wine,  and  a parcel  of  broadcloth  to  be  made  into  a suit  of 
clothes,  kindly  requesting  him  not  to  send  his  coat  again 
to  be  patched.  In  acknowledging  this  generous  present, 
the  needy  and  somewhat  seedy  Vicar  wrote  as  follows  : — 

Madeley,  July  — , 1766. 

My  very  dear  Friend, — You  should  have  a little  mercy  on  your 
friends,  in  not  loading  them  with  such  burdens  of  beneficence.  How 
would  you  like  to  be  loaded  with  kindnesses  you  could  not  return  ? 
Were  it  not  for  a little  of  that  grace  which  makes  us  not  only  willing, 
but  happy  to  be  nothing,  to  be  obliged  and  dependent,  your  present 


Letters,  1791,  p.  174. 


no 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1766. 


would  make  me  quite  miserable.  I submit  to  be  clothed  and  nourished 
by  you,  as  your  servants  are,  without  the  happiness  of  serving  you.  To 
yield  to  this  is  as  hard  to  friendship  as  it  is  to  submit  to  be  saved  by 
free  grace,  without  one  scrap  of  our  own  righteousness.  However,  we 
are  allowed,  both  in  religion  and  friendship,  to  ease  ourselves  by  thanks 
and  prayers,  till  we  have  an  opportunity  of  doing  it  by  actions.  I thank 
you  then,  my  dear  friend,  and  pray  to  God  that  you  may  receive  His 
benefits  as  I do  yours. 

‘^Your  broadcloth  can  lap  me  round  two  or  three  times;  but  the 
mantle  of  Divine  love,  the  precious  fine  robe  of  Jesus’s  righteousness, 
can  cover  your  soul  a thousand  times.  The  cloth,  fine  and  good  as  it 
is,  will  not  keep  out  a hard  shower ; but  that  garment  of  salvation  will 
keep  out  even  a shower  of  brimstone  and  fire.  Your  cloth  will  wear 
out ; but  that  fine  linen,  the  righteousness  of  saints,  will  appear  with 
a finer  lustre  the  more  it  is  worn.  The  moth  may  fret  your  present,  or 
the  tailor  may  spoil  it  in  cutting  it ; but  the  present,  which  Jesus  has 
made  you,  is  out  of  the  reach  of  the  spoiler,  and  ready  for  present  wear. 
Let  me  beseech  you,  my  dear  friend,  to  accept  of  this  heavenly  present, 
as  I accept  of  your  earthly  one.  I did  not  send  you  one  farthing  to 
purchase  it : it  came  unsought,  unasked,  unexpected,  as  the  seed  of 
the  woman  came.  It  came  just  as  I was  sending  a tailor  to  buy  me 
cloth  for  a new  coat,  and  I hope  when  you  next  see  me,  it  will  be  in 
your  present;  now  let  Jesus  see  you  in  His.  Accept  it  freely.  Wear 
no  more  the  old  rusty  coat  of  nature  and  self-righteousness.  Send  no 
more  to  have  it  Jiatched.  Make  your  boast  of  an  unbought  suit,  and 
love  to  wear  the  livery  of  Jesus. 

‘‘You  will  then  love  His  work.  It  will  be  your  meat  and  drink  to  do 
it ; and,  that  you  may  be  vigorous  in  doing  it,  as  I shall  take  a little 
of  your  wine  for  my  stomach’s  sake,  take  you  a good  deal  of  the  wine 
of  the  kingdom  for  your  soul’s  sake.  Every  promise  of  the  Gospel  is 
a bottle,  a cask  that  has  a spring  within,  and  can  never  be  exhausted. 
Draw  the  cork  of  unbelief,  and  drink  abundantly.  Be  not  afraid  of 
intoxication ; and  if  an  inflammation  follows,  it  will  only  be  that  of 
Divine  love.  Be  more  free  with  the  heavenly  wine,  than  I have  been 
with  the  earthly,  which  you  sent  me.  I have  not  tasted  it  yet,  but 
whose  fault  is  it  ? Not  yours  certainly,  but  mine.  If  you  do  not  drink 
daily  out  of  the  cup  of  salvation,  whose  fault  is  it?  Not  Jesus’s,  but 
yours.  Jesus  gives  you  His  righteousness  to  cover  your  nakedness,  and 
the  consolations  of  His  Spirit  to  cheer  and  invigorate  your  soul.  Accept 
and  use.  Wear,  drink,  and  live  to  God.”^ 

Fletcher  was  religious  in  everything,  and  all  his  faculties 
were  sanctified.  He  could  not  even  acknowledge  the  kind- 
ness of  his  friend  without  introducing  religion  ; but,  to  do 
this  gracefully,  he  exercises,  not  his  manly  understanding, 


Letters,  1791,  p.  178. 


Age  36.] 


An  Excursio7i. 


1 1 1 


but  his  sportive  fancy.  “ Fancy/’  said  fanciful  Thomas 
Fuller,  ‘‘can  adorn  whatever  it  touches,  can  invest  naked 
fact  and  dry  reasoning  with  unlooked-for  beauty,  make 
flowerets  bloom  even  on  the  brow  of  a precipice,  and,  when 
nothing  better  can  be  had,  can  turn  the  very  substance  of 
the  rock  itself  into  moss  and  lichens.”  Few  men  have  pos- 
sessed a finer  fancy  than  Fletcher  did  ; but  his  was  rarely 
used  except  for  religious  purposes.  He  might  have  been  an 
accomplished  allegorist  ; but  he  preferred  to  be  a scriptural 
reasoner.  His  creed  was  founded,  not  upon  fancies,  but 
upon  facts.  Hence,  in  the  same  month  that  he  wrote  the 
foregoing  letter  to  Mr.  Ireland,  he  wrote  as  follows  to  Miss 
Hatton  : — 


'^Madeley,  July  17,  1766. 

'' Let  your  faith  be  rational  as  well  as  affectionate.  God  is  good. 
He  does  not  want  us  to  take  His  word  without  proof.  What  expec- 
tations of  the  Messiah  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  ! What  amazing 
miracles  and  wonders  were  wrought  in  favour  of  that  people  and  family, 
from  which  He  was  to  come  ! What  prophecies  fulfilled,  that  we  might 
rationally  believe ! What  displays  of  the  Godhead  in  that  heavenly 
man,  Christ  Jesus ! In  Him  dwelt,  of  a truth,  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  bodily.  You  see  the  power  of  God  in  His  miracles ; the 
goodness  of  God  in  His  character ; the  justice  and  mercy  of  God  in 
His  death  ; the  truth,  and  faithfulness,  and  glory  of  God  in  His  resur- 
rection, in  the  coming  of  His  Spirit,  and  in  the  preaching  of  His 
everlasting  Gospel.  O,  my  friend,  we  may  believe  rationally.  We 
may,  with  calm  attention,  view  the  emptiness  of  all  other  religions,  and 
the  fulness  of  assurance  that  ours  affords.”  * 

Soon  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Fletcher  proceeded  to 
London,  to  Brighton,  and  to  Oathall,  where  he  had  sweet 
intercourse  with  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  Romaine, 
Venn,  Sir  Charles  Hotham,  and  with  a gentleman  and  lady 
from  his  own  country,  who  were  visiting  the  Countess,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powys  of  Berwick,  in  Shropshire,  Mr.  Powys 
being  a gentleman  of  high  connections  and  of  large  fortune, 
and  who  had,  about  this  period,  become  conspicuous,  in 
conjunction  with  Sir  Richard  Hill  and  Mr.  Lee,  of  Cotery, 
for  zeal  in  the  cause  of  God  and  truth.^ 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  180. 

^ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  375. 


I 12 


Wes/ey  s Designated  Successor. 


[1766. 


While  staying  with  Lady  Huntingdon  at  Oathall,  Fletcher 
wrote  another  pastoral  letter,  which  could  not  have  been 
more  faithful,  but  might,  perhaps  with  advantage,  have  been 
more  gentle. 

'‘Oathall,  Sussex,  September  2}^,  1766. 

" To  those  who  love  or  fear  the  Lord  Jesus  at  Madeley,  grace,  peace, 
and  love  be  multiplied  unto  you,  from  our  God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ! 

"Providence,  my  dear  brethren,  called  me  so  suddenly  from  among 
you,  that  I had  no  time  to  take  my  leave  of  you,  and  recommend  myself 
to  your  prayers.  But  I hope  the  good  Spirit  of  our  God,  who  is  the 
Spirit  of  love  and  supplication,  has  brought  me  to  your  remembrance, 
as  the  poorest  and  weakest  of  Christ’s  ministers,  whose  hands  stand 
most  in  need  of  being  strengthened  and  lifted  up  by  your  prayers.  Pray 
on  then,  for  yourselves,  for  one  another,  and  for  him  whose  glory  it  is  to 
minister  to  you  in  spiritual  things,  and  whose  sorrow  it  is  not  to  do  it  in 
a manner  more  suitable  to  the  majesty  of  the  Gospel,  and  more  pro- 
fitable to  your  souls.  My  heart  is  with  you,  nevertheless  I bear  patiently 
this  bodily  separation  for  three  reasons. 

" I.  The  variety  of  more  faithful  and  able  ministers,  which  you  have 
during  my  absence,  is  more  likely  to  be  serviceable  to  you  than  my 
presence  among  you,  and  I would  always  prefer  your  profit  to  my  own 
satisfaction. 

"2.  I hope  Providence  will  give  me  those  opportunities  of  conversing 
and  praying  with  a greater  variety  of  experienced  Christians,  which  will 
tend  to  my  own  improvement,  and,  I trust,  in  the  end,  to  yours. 

"3.  T flatter  myself  that,  after  some  weeks’  absence,  my  ministry  will 
be  recommended  by  the  advantage  of  novelty,  which  (the  more  the 
pity)  goes  farther  with  some  than  the  Word  itself.  In  the  meantime,  I 
shall  give  you  some  advice,  which,  it  may  be,  will  prove  both  suitable 
and  serviceable  to  you. 

"Endeavour  to  improve  daily  under  the  ministry  that  Providence 
blesses  you  with.  Be  careful  to  attend  it  with  diligence,  faith,  and 
prayer.  Would  it  not  be  a great  shame  if,  when  ministers  come  thirty 
or  forty  miles  to  offer  you  peace  and  pardon,  strength  and  comfort,  in 
the  name  of  God,  any  of  you  should  slight  the  glorious  message,  or 
hear  it  as  if  it  was  nothing  to  you,  and  as  if  you  heard  it  not  ? See 
then  that  you  never  come  from  a sermon  without  being  more  deeply 
convinced  of  sin  and  righteousness.  In  order  to  this, — 

"Use  much  prayer  before  you  go  to  church.  Consider  that  your 
next  appearance  there  may  be  in  a coffin,  and  entreat  the  Lord  to  give 
you  now  so  to  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness  that  you  may  be 
filled  therewith.  Hungry  people  never  go  fasting  from  a feast.  Call 
to  mind  the  text  I preached  from  the  last  Sunday  but  one  before  I left 
you, — 'Wherefore,  laying  aside  all  malice,  and  all  guile,  and  hypocrisies, 
and  envies,  and  all  evil  speakings,  as  new  born  babes  desire  the 
sincere  milk  of  the  Word,  that  ye  may  grow  thereby  ’ (i  Peter  ii.  i,  2). 

" When  you  are  under  the  Word,  beware  of  sitting  as  judges,  and  not 


Age  37.] 


Another  Pastoral  Letter, 


113 


like  criminals.  Many  judge  of  the  manner,  matter,  voice,  or  person 
of  the  preacher.  You,  perhaps,  judge  all  the  congregation  when  you 
should  judge  yourselves  guilty  of  eternal  death  and  yet  worthy  of 
eternal  life,  through  the  worthiness  of  Him  who  stood  and  was  con- 
demned at  Pilate’s  bar  for  you.  The  moment  you  have  done  crying  to 
God  as  guilty,  or  thanking  Christ  as  reprieved,  criminals,  you  have 
reason  to  believe  that  this  advice  is  levelled  at  you. 

When  you  have  been  at  a means  of  grace  and  do  not  find  yourselves 
sensibly  quickened,  let  it  be  matter  of  deep  humiliation  to  you.  For 
want  of  repenting  of  their  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart,  some  get  into 
a habit  of  deadness  and  indolence,  so  that  they  come  to  be  as  insensible 
and  as  little  ashamed  of  themselves  as  stones. 

Beware  of  the  inconsistent  behaviour  of  those  who  complain  that 
they  are  full  of  wandering  in  the  evening  under  the  Word  when  they 
have  suffered  their  minds  to  wander  from  Christ  all  the  day  long.  Oh  ! 
get  acquainted  with  Him,  that  you  may  walk  in  Him  and  with  Him. 
Whatsoever  you  do  or  say,  especially  in  the  things  of  God,  do  or  say 
it  as  if  Christ  was  before,  behind,  and  on  each  side  of  you.  Indeed, 
He  is  so,  whether  you  consider  it  or  not ; for  when  He  visibly  appeared 
on  earth.  He  called  Himself  ^ the  Son  of  Man  which  is  in  heaven ; ’ 
how  much  more  then  is  He  present  on  earth  now  that  He  makes 
His  immediate  appearance  in  heaven  ? Make  conscience  then  to 
maintain  a sense  of  His  blessed  presence  all  the  day  long,  and  all 
the  day  long  you  will  have  a continual  feast.  For,  can  you  conceive 
anything  more  delightful  than  to  be  always  at  the  fountain  of  love, 
peace,  beaut}q  and  joy, — at  the  spring  of  power,  wissdom,  goodness,  and 
truth  ? Can  there  be  a purer  and  more  melting  happiness  than  to  be 
with  the  best  of  fathers,  the  kindest  of  brothers,  the  most  generous  of 
benefactors,  and  the  tenderest  of  husbands  ? Now  Jesus  is  all  this  and 
much  more  to  the  believing  soul.  Oh  ! believe,  my  friends,  believe  in 
Jesus  now,  through  a continual  now ; and  until  you  can  thus  believe, 
mourn  over  your  unbelieving  heart ; drag  it  to  Him  as  you  can  ; think 
of  the  efficacy  of  His  blood  shed  for  the  ungodly ; and  wait  for  the 
Spirit  of  faith  from  on  high. 

“Some  of  you  wonder* why  you  cannot  believe,  why  you  cannot  see 
Jesus  with  the  eye  of  your  mind,  and  delight  in  Him  with  the  affections 
of  your  heart.  I apprehend  the  reason  to  be  one  of  these,  or  perhaps 
altogether. 

“i.  You  are  not  poor,  lost,  undone,  helpless,  despairing  sinners  in 
yourselves.  You  indulge  spiritual  and  refined  self-righteousness  ; you 
are  not  yet  dead  to  the  law,  and  quite  slain  by  the  commandment.  Now 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  belongs  to  none  but  the  poor  in  spirit.  Jesus 
came  to  save  none  but  the  lost.  What  wonder  then,  if  Jesus  is  little  to 
you,  and  if  you  do  not  live  in  His  kingdom  of  peace,  righteousness,  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost  ? 

“2.  Perhaps  you  spend  your  time  in  curious  reasonings,  instead  of 
casting  yourselves  as  forlorn  sinners  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  leaving  it  to 
Him  to  bless  you  when  and  in  the  manner  He  pleases.  Know  that 

8 


4 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1766. 


He  is  the  wise  and  sovereign  God,  and  that  it  is  your  duty  to  lie  before 
Him  as  clay,  as  fools,  as  sinful  nothings. 

‘‘3.  Perhaps,  also,  some  of  you  wilfully  keep  idols  of  one  kind  or 
another ; you  indulge  some  sin  against  light  and  knowledge,  and  it  is 
neither  matter  of  humiliation,  nor  of  confession  to  you.  The  love  of 
praise,  that  of  the  world,  that  of  money,  and  that  of  sensual  gratifications, 
when  not  lamented,  are  as  implacable  enemies  to  Christ  as  Judas  and 
Herod  were.  How  can  ye  believe,  seeing  ye  seek  the  honour  that 
cometh  from  men  ? Hew  then  your  Agags  in  pieces  before  the  Lord. 
Run  from  your  Delilahs  to  Jesus  resolutely.  Cut  off  the  right  hand  and 
pluck  out  the  right  eye  that  offends  you.  ‘ Come  out  from  among  them, 
and  be  separate,  saith  the  Lord,- and  I will  receive  you.’  Nevertheless, 
when  you  strive,  take  care  not  to  make  yourself  a righteousness  of  your 
own  striving.  Remember  that  justifying  righteousness  is  finished  and 
brought  in,  and  that  your  goodness  can  no  more  add  to  it  than  your 
sins  diminish  it.  Shout  then,  ^ the  Lord  your  Righteousness  I ’ And, 
if  you  are  undone  sinners,  humbly  and  yet  boldly  say,  ^ In  the  Lord 
have  I righteousness  and  strength.’ 

‘^When  I was  in  London,  I endeavoured  to  make  the  best  of  my 
time  ; that  is  to  say,  to  hear,  receive,  and  practise  the  Word.  Accord- 
ingly, I went  to  Mr.  Whitefield’s  Tabernacle,  and  heard  him  give  his 
Society  a most  sweet  exhortation  upon  love.  He  began  by  observing 
that  when  the  Apostle  St.  John  was  old  and  past  walking  and  preaching, 
he  would  not  forsake  the  assembling  himself  with  his  brethren,  as  the 
manner  of  too  many  is,  upon  little  or  no  pretence  at  all.  On  the 
contrary,  he  got  himself  carried  to  their  meeting,  and,  with  his  last 
thread  of  voice,  preached  to  them  his  final  sermon  made  up  of  this  one 
sentence,  ‘My  little  children,  love  one  another.’  I wish,  I pray,  I 
earnestly  beseech  you  to  follow  that  evangelical,  apostolical  advice  ; 
and  till  God  makes  you  all  little  children,  little  in  your  own  eyes,  and 
simple  as  little  children,  give  me  leave  to  say,  dear  brethren,  love  one 
another,  and,  of  course,  judge  not,  provoke  not,  be  not  shy  of  one 
another,  but  bear  one  another’s  burdens,  and  so  fulfil  the  law  of  Christ. 
Yea,  bear  with  one  another’s  infirmities,  and  do  not  easily  cast  off  any 
one,  no  not  for  sin,  except  it  be  obstinately  persisted  in. 

“ My  sheet  is  full,  and  so  is  my  heart  of  good  wishes  for  and  strong 
longing  after  you  all.  I have  just  room  to  tell  you  I hope  to  be  with 
you  in  three  or  four  weeks’  time.  Oh  ! let  me  have  the  comfort  of 
finding  you  all  believing  and  loving.  Farewell,  my  dear  brethren  ! 
The  blessing  of  God  be  with  you  all  ! This  is  the  earnest  desire  of 

“ Your  unworthy  minister, 

“ John  Fletcher.”  ^ 

This  is  a long  but  valuable  letter — valuable  for  the  senti- 
ments and  advice  it  contains,  and  also  as  showing  Fletcher’s 


^ “Thirteen  Original  Letters,”  by  Fletcher,  published  at  Bath  in 
1791,  p.  20. 


Age  37.] 


Afzss  Hatton  Dying. 


^15 


loving  and  faithful  passion  to  save  the  souls  of  his  parish- 
ioners. Comment  upon  it  would  be  easy,  but  is  unnecessary. 
When  he  wrote  it,  on  September  23,  he  intended  to  return 
to  Madeley  in  “ three  or  four  weeks'  time,"  but  at  the  be- 
ginning of  November  he  was  still  in  London.  In  a letter  to 
Mr.  Powys,  dated  the  first  of  that  month,  Whitefield  re- 
marked, “ Dear  Mr.  Pdetcher  is  become  a scandalous  Totten- 
ham Court  preacher."  ^ How  long  he  continued  to  officiate  in 
Whitefield’s  far-famed  chapel  it  is  impossible  to  tell  ; but  at 
the  beginning  of  1767  he  was  at  Madeley,  and  wrote  to 
Miss  Hatton  as  follows  : — 


Madeley,  Jamcary  9,  1767. 

My  Dear  Friend, — The  dream  of  life  will  soon  be  over;  the 
morning  of  eternity  will  soon  succeed.  Away  then  with  all  the  shadows 
of  time  •!  Away  from  them  to  the  Eternal  Substance — to  Jesus,  the 
First  and  the  Last,  by  whom,  and  for  whom,  all  things  consist.  If 
you  take  Jesus  to  be  your  head,  by  the  mystery  of  faith,  you  will  be 
united  to  the  resurrection  and  the  life.  The  bitterness  of  death  is  past, 
my  dear  friend.  Only  look  to  Jesus.  He  died  for  you — died  in  your 
place — died  under  the  frowns  of  heaven,  that  we  might  die  under  its 
smiles.  Regard  neither  unbelief  nor  doubt.  Fear  neither  sin  nor  hell. 
Choose  neither  life  nor  death.  All  these  are  swallowed  up  in  the  immen- 
sity of  Christ,  and  are  triumphed  over  in  His  cross.  Fight  the  good 
fight  of  faith.  Hold  fast  your  confidence  in  the  atoning,  sanctifying 
blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God.  Confer  no  more  with  flesh  and  blood.  Go, 
meet  the  bridegroom.  Behold  He  cometh  ! Trim  your  lamp.  Quit 
yourself  like  a soldier  of  Jesus.  I entreatyoM,  as  a companion  in  tribu- 
lation ; I charge  you,  as  a minister,  go,  at  every  breath  you  draw,  to 
Him,  who  says,  ‘ Him  that  cometh  unto  me,  I will  in  no  wise  cast  out:  ^ 
and  ' He  that  believeth  in  Me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live.’ 
Joyfully  sing  the  believer’s  song,  ‘O  death,  where  is  thy  sting?  O 
grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ? Thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the 
victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ!’  Let  your  surviving  friends 
triumph  over  you,  as  one  faithful  unto  death, — as  one  triumphing  in 
death  itself.”  ^ 

Three  weeks  after  this,  the  Christian  lady  thus  addressed 
was  dead.^  Fletcher,  in  a letter  to  Mr.  Ireland,  wrote  : — 

“ Poor  Miss  Hatton  died  full  of  serenity,  faith,  and  love.  The  four 
last  hours  of  her  life  were  better  than  all  her  sickness.  When  the  pangs 


^ Whitefield’s  Works,  vol.  iii.,  p.  339. 
^ Letters,  1791,  p.  189. 

^ Ibid,  p.  190. 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor, 


[1767. 


1 16 


of  death  were  upon  her,  the  comforts  of  the  Almighty  bore  her  triumph- 
antly through,  and  some  of  her  last  words  were  : ‘ Grieve  not  at  my 
happiness.  This  world  is  no  more  to  me  than  a bit  of  burnt  paper. 
Grace  ! Grace  ! A sinner  saved  ! I wish  I could  tell  you  half  of  what 
I feel  and  see.  I am  going  to  keep  an  everlasting  Sabbath.  O death, 
where  is  thy  sting  ? O grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ? Thanks  be  to  God, 
who  giveth  me  the  victory,  through  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ! ’ It  is  very 
remarkable  that  she  had  hardly  any  joy  in  her  illness  ; but  God  made 
her  ample  amends  in  her  extremity.  He  keeps  His  strongest  cordial 
for  the  time  of  need.  Blessed,  for  ever  blessed,  be  His  holy  name  ! ” ^ 

As  already  stated,  Fletcher,  when  in  London,  had  preached 
in  Tottenham  Court  Road  Chapel.  Whitefield  wrote  a letter, 
thanking  him  for  his  services.  Fletcher’s  highly  character- 
istic reply  was  as  follows  : — 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I am  confounded  when  I receive  a letter 
from  you.  Present  and  eternal  contempt  from  Christ  and  all  His  mem- 
bers is  what  I deserve.  A sentence  of  death  is  my  due ; but,  instead 
of  it,  I am  favoured  with  lines  of  love.  Your  mentioning  my  poor  minis- 
trations among  your  congregation  opens  again  a wound  of  shame,  that 
was  but  half  healed.  I feel  the  need  of  asking  God,  you,  and  your 
hearers  to  pardon  me,  for  weakening  the  glorious  matter  of  the  Gospel 
by  my  wretched  broken  manner,  and  for  spoiling  the  heavenly  power  of 
it  by  the  uncleanness  of  my  heart  and  lips. 

I should  be  glad  to  be  your  curate  some  time  this  year;  but  I see 
no  opening,  nor  the  least  prospect  of  any.  What  between  the  dead  and 
living,  a parish  ties  one  down  more  than  a wife.  If  I could  go  anywhere 
this  year,  it  should  be  to  Yorkshire,  to  accompany  Lady  Huntingdon, 
according  to  a design  that  I had  half  formed  last  year ; but  I fear  I 
shall  be  debarred  even  from  this.  I set  out,  God  willing,  to-morrow 
morning  for  Trevecca,  to  meet  her  ladyship  there,  and  to  show  her  the 
way  to  Madeley,  where  she  proposes  to  stay  three  or  four  days,  on  her 
way  to  Derbyshire. 

Last  Sunday  seven-night.  Captain  Scott  preached  to  my  congrega- 
tion a sermon,  which  was  more  blessed,  though  preached  only  upon  my 
horse-block,  than  a hundred  of  those  I preach  in  the  pulpit.  I invited 
him  to  come  and  treat  her  ladyship  next  Sunday  with  another,  now  the 
place  is  consecrated.  If  you  should  ever  favour  Shropshire  with  your 
presence,  you  shall  have  the  captain’s,  or  the  parson’s,  pulpit  at  your 
option.  Many  ask  me,  whether  you  will  not  come  to  have  some  fruit 
here  also.  What  must  I answer  them  ? I,  and  many  more,  complain 
of  a stagnation  of  the  work.  What  must  we  do  ? Everything  buds  and 
blossoms  about  us,  yet  our  winter  is  not  over. 

Present  my  Christian  respects  to  Mrs.  Whitefield,  Mr.  Hardy,  Mr. 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  192. 


Age  37.] 


Lady  Huntingdon  at  Madeley. 


117 


Keen,  Mr.  Joyce,  Mr.  Croom,  and  Mr.  Wright.  Tell  Mr.  Keen  I am 
a letter  in  his  debt,  and  postpone  writing  it  till  I have  had  such  a sight 
of  Christ  as  to  breathe  His  love  through  every  line. 

I am,  rev.  and  dear  Sir,  with  sincere  affection  and  respect,  your 
willing,  though  halting  and  unworthy  servant, 

‘'J.  Fletcher.”^ 

Captain  Scott,  the  martial  evangelist,  mentioned  in  this 
letter,  was  a Shropshire  man,  and  belonged  to  an  ancient 
and  respectable  family.  He  had  begun  his  military  life  as 
a cornet,  and  had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  in 
the  7th  regiment  of  dragoons.  A short  time  before  his  first 
visit  to  Madeley,  Fletcher,  in  a letter  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,  remarked  : — 

“I  went  last  Monday  to  meet  Captain  Scott,  one  of  the  fruits  that 
have  grown  for  the  Lord  at  Oathall, — a captain  of  a truth — a bold  soldier 
of  Christ.  God  has  thrown  down  before  him  the  middle  wall  of  bigotry, 
and  he  boldly  launches  into  an  irregular  usefulness.  For  some  months, 
he  has  exhorted  his  dragoons  daily ; and,  for  some  weeks,  he  has 
preached  publicly  in  the  Methodist  Meeting  House,  in  his  regimentals, 
to  numerous  congregations,  with  good  success.  The  stiff  regular  ones 
pursue  him  with  hue  and  cry  ; but,  I believe,  he  is  quite  beyond  their 
reach.  God  keep  him  zealous  and  simple  ! I believe  this  red  coat  will 
shame  many  a black  one.  I am  sure  he  shames  me.”  ^ 

In  the  year  176^^  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  was  much 
occupied  in  making  preparations  for  the  opening  of  her 
college  at  Trevecca,  in  Wales.  From  the  commencement  of 
this  important  project,  Fletcher  was  one  of  her  ladyship’s 
chosen  advisers.  In  the  month  of  April,  he  met  her  at 
Trevecca,  and  escorted  her  to  Madeley,  where  she  spent 
several  days  on  her  way  to  Yorkshire.  The  visit  was  a 
memorable  one.  Her  ladyship  was  accompanied  by  Lady 
Anne  Erskine  and  Miss  Orton.  The  rich  Christian  com- 
munion of  these  three  noble  ladies  with  the  poor  vicar  may 
be  imagined,  but  cannot  be  described.  It  was,  probably,  at 
this  period  that  the  Countess  was  led  to  think  of  Fletcher  as 
the  future  president  of  her  college.  At  all  events,  in  the 
following  year,  he  was  appointed  to  that  important  office.^ 


* Evangelical  Magazine^  1802,  p.  346. 

2 Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  pp.  317, 
318. 

^ Ibid^  vol.  i.,  p.  288  ; ii.,  p.  iv. 


ii8 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1767- 


Captain  Scott  also  was  at  Madeley,  and  though  Fletcher, 
of  course,  could  not  allow  him  the  use  of  the  pulpit  of  the 
parish  church,  he  had  him  mounted  upon  the  horse-block  of 
the  parish  parsonage,  where  he  preached  twice,  on  Sunday, 
to  large  congregations;  and  on  the  day  following,  in  Madeley 
Wood,  an  immense  concourse  of  people  assembled  to  hear 
him,  many  of  whom  were  drawn  thither  by  curiosity,  to 
see  the  famous  Countess  and  the  preaching  soldier. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  Countess’s  visit,  Fletcher  was  in 
doubt  whether  he  would  be  able  to  attend  her  in  Yorkshire, 
but,  before  she  left  Madeley  Vicarage,  it  was  arranged  that 
he  should  follow  her  immediately  after  Whit-Sunday,  Mr. 
Ireland  wished  him  to  visit  Bristol,  and  certainly  he  had 
some  claim  upon  him  ; for,  to  say  nothing  of  the  valuable 
presents  he  had  sent,  for  the  use  of  Fletcher  and  the  poor  of 
Madeley,  he  had  secured  for  them  a most  acceptable  curate, 
to  serve  the  parish  during  Fletcher’s  absence.  Fletcher,  for 
the  present,  was  obliged  to  decline  his  friend’s  invitation. 
Hence  the  following  letter  to  him  : — 

"‘Madeley,  A^ril  27,  1767. 

“ My  Very  Dear  Friend, — I have  just  received  your  letter,  upon 
my  arrival  from  Wales  with  dear  Lady  Huntingdon,  who  is,  of  a truth, 
a tried  stone,  built  upon  the  corner  stone,  and  such  as  you  have  seen 
her,  such,  I am  persuaded,  you  will  find  her  to  the  last, — a soul  devoted 
to  Jesus,  living  by  faith,  going  to  Christ  Himself  by  the  Scriptures, 
instead  of  resting  in  the  letter  of  the  Gospel  promises,  as  too  many 
professors  do. 

“I  thank  you  for  your  care  to  procure  not  only  a supply  for  my  church, 
but  such  an  agreeable,  acceptable,  and  profitable  one  as  Mr.  Brown. 
I know  no  one  that  should  be  more  welcome  than  he.  Tell  him,  with  a 
thousand  thanks  for  his  condescension,  that  I deliver  my  charge  over  to 
him  fully,  and  give  him  a carte  blanche,  to  do  or  not  to  do,  as  the  Lord 
will  direct  him.  I have  settled  it,  that  I shall  endeavour  to  overtake 
my  lady  at  Kippax,  in  Yorkshire,  against  the  Sunday  after  Whitsuntide 

“With  regard  to  the  Bristol  journey,  I must  first  come  from  the  north, 
before  I dream  of  going  to  the  south.  God  help  us  to  steer  immovably 
to  the  grand  point  of  our  salvation, — Jesus,  the  Crucified  ! To  Him 
I recommend  myself,  and  you,  and  my  noble  guests.  Love  Him, — 
praise  Him, — serve  Him,  who  hath  loved  you,  bought  you,  and  died  for 
you.”  » 


Letters,  1791,  p.  196. 


Age  37.] 


Fletcher  in  Yorkshire. 


119 


In  the  year  1767,  Whit-Sunday  occurred  on  June  7,  and, 
during  the  week  following,  Fletcher  joined  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  at  Huddersfield,  where  her  ladyship  was  staying, 
for  a few  days,  with  Venn,  at  the  vicarage.  On  Sunday, 
the  14th,  he  preached  twice  in  Venn’s  church,  to  large  and 
deeply  attentive  congregations.  He  then  accompanied  the 
Countess  to  Aberford,  on  a visit  to  Benjamin  Ingham,  who 
had  married  her  niece.  Lady  Margaret  Hastings.  Whilst 
there,  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Townsend,  Rector 
of  Pewsey,  in  Wiltshire,  who  had  preached  at  the  opening  of 
Lady  Huntingdon’s  chapel  at  Bath,  in  1765,  the  whole 
family  party  at  Aberford  made  an  excursion  to  Haworth. 
Grimshaw,  the  brave-hearted  incumbent,  to  whom  Yorkshire 
Methodism  owes  so  much,  had  died  four  years  before,  and 
had  been  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Richardson,  a good 
man,  and  evangelical  in  his  principles,  but  averse  to  open-air 
preaching,  in  which  his  predecessor  had  delighted.  The 
intended  visit  to  Haworth  having  become  known,  and  it 
being  understood  that  Fletcher  and  Mr.  Townsend  would 
preach,  an  immense  multitude  of  people  assembled  to  hear 
them.  Application  was  made  for  the  use  of  what  was  called 
“Mr.  Whitefield’s  pulpit,”  that  is,  a scaffold  erected  by  the 
side  of  Haworth  church,  and  from  which  Whitefield  v/as 
wont  to  thunder  his  overwhelming  .sermons.  Mr.  Richardson 
refused  the  request.  Lady  Huntingdon  remonstrated  ; and, 
though  it  is  not  stated  that  the  scaffold  was  brought  out,  it 
is  known  that  both  Fletcher  and  Townsend  preached  in  the 
churchyard. 

On  leaving  Aberford,  the  Countess  and  her  friends  pro- 
ceeded to  Kippax,  on  a visit  to  her  niece,  Mrs.  Medhurst. 
Here,  at  the  beginning  of  July,  they  were  joined  by  the 
Rev.  Martin  Madan  ; and  now  the  village  of  Kippax  became 
the  centre  of  some  of  the  most  remarkable  evangelistic  efforts 
recorded  in  Methodistic  annals.  For  some  weeks,  P'letcher, 
ofMadeley;  Madan,  from  London;  Venn,  Vicar  of  Hudders- 
field ; Conyers,  Rector  of  Helmsley  ; Burnet,  Vicar  of  Elland; 
Ryland,  Curate  of  Huddersfield  ; Bentley,  Vicar  of  Kippax  ; 
and  Powley,  Vicar  of  Dewsbury,  made  frequent  excursions 
not  only  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Kippax,  but  to 
distant  parts  of  the  county,  affectionately  inviting  the  multi- 


120 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1767. 


tudes  who  flocked  to  hear  them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come.^  Unfortunately,  the  details  of  these  missionary  labours 
seem  to  be  irrecoverably  lost ; and  it  can  only  be  added  that, 
in  consequence  of  being  seized  with  a rather  alarming  illness, 
the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  was  not  able  to  take  part  in 
many  of  the  services.  After  Fletcher's  return  to  Madeley,  he 
wrote  to  her  ladyship  as  follows  : — 

‘‘My  Very  Dear  and  Honoured  Lady, — The  God  of  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  who  tried  Israel,  and  led  them  through  many  a 
wandering  to  the  good  land — this  faithful  God  has  met  with  you  ; a rod 
is  in  His  hand,  but  that  hand  bears  so  deep  a print  of  iove,  that  the 
design  of  His  visitation  cannot  be  mistaken.  Nor  does  He  come  without 
the  supporting  staff.  He  kills  to  make  alive.  He  wounds  to  heal. 
He  afflicts  to  comfort,  and  to  do  it  more  deeply  and  effectually.  My 
hearty  prayer  for  your  ladyship  is,  that  you  may  drink  the  cup  the  Lord 
holds  out  to  you  as  a new  token  of  His  unchangeable  love.  I call  it 
unchangeable,  because  it  is  really  so  in  its  nature,  though  the  appear- 
ances of  it  greatly  vary  for  the  trial  of  faith.  ‘ I am  God,’  says  He  ; ‘ I 
change  not,  therefore  Israel  is  not  consumed,’  and  Shadrach  is  kept  in 
the  burning  fiery  furnace. 

“ I have  often  heard  your  ladyship  speak  admirably  upon  knowing 
Christ,  and  the  power  of  His  resurrection,  and fellowship  of  His 
sufferings . The  Lord  will  have  you  improve  in  that  heavenly  know- 
ledge ; therefore  He  gives  you  so  long  a lesson  at  this  time.  The  lesson 
is  hard,  I grant ; but  the  Master  is  so  loving^  the  science  so  noble,  and 
the  scholar  so  used  to  severe  exercises,  that  it  is  no  wonder  you  are 
placed  on  the  highest  form.  No  cross — no  crown  ! The  heavier  the 
cross,  the  brighter  the  crown  ! 

“ Till  I received  Lady  Anne’s  letter,  I often  wanted  to  persuade  myself 
that  your  ladyship  had  got  quite  well  soon  after  I left  Kippax.  I beg 
my  best  respects  and  warmest  thanks  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Medhurst,  Miss 
Medhurst,  and  the  dear  company  of  your  ladyship.  Their  kindness 
and  patience  towards  me  while  at  Kippax  have  laid  me  under  a heavy 
burden  of  obligations,  which  I desire  gratefully  to  acknowledge. 

“Through  a mistake  of  our  good  friend  Ireland,  dear  Mr.  Glascott 
came  here  the  day  after  I arrived  from  Yorkshire.  He  stayed  only  one 
day.  This  stripling  will  throw  down  Goliath.  I blessed  that  cross  and 
accident  which  brought  me  acquainted  with  a young  soldier  that  made 
me  so  ashamed  of  myself.  Mr.  Hill'^  is  gone  to  Brighton,  where  I hope 
he  will  be  as  useful  as  he  is  in  Shropshire.  Captain  Scott  set  out  last 
Monday  for  York,  after  making  a great  stir  for  good  in  Shrewsbury. 


1 “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  pp.  290, 
291. 

2 Afterwards  Sir  Richard  Hill,  Bart.,  one  of  Fletcher’s  antagonists  in 
the  Calvinian  controversy. 


Age  38.] 


Rev.  Cradock  Glascott. 


121 


I am  loth  to  trouble  Lady  Anne  with  a request  of  a line,  to  know 
how  your  ladyship  does,  yet  I know  not  well  how  to  give  up  the  hope 
that  she  will  once  more  steal  two  minutes  for  it. 

I am,  with  peculiar  thanks  to  Lady  Anne  for  her  letter,  and  to  your 
ladyship  for  numberless  favours,  my  lady,  your  most  indebted  and  obliged 
servant, 

‘‘J.  Fletcher.”* 

No  further  reference  to  the  illness  of  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  is  needed  ; but  a few  lines  may  be  added  con- 
cerning Mr.  Glascott,  whom  Mr.  Ireland  had  sent  to  Madeley 
to  officiate  during  Fletcher’s  supposed  absence.  This  young 
clergyman  had  been  ordained  at  Oxford  in  1765.  For  two 
years,  he  had  served  the  curacy  of  Cheveley,  in  Berkshire, 
and  had  been  recently  dismissed.  He  was  now  introduced 
to  Lady  Huntingdon,  became  her  assistant  chaplain,  and 
laboured  in  her  connexion  till  1781.  Mr.  Ireland  then  pre- 
sented him  to  the  vicarage  of  Hatherleigh,  in  Devonshire. 
Here  he  prayed  and  preached  for  nearly  fifty  years;  and 
here  he  died,  in  the  full  triumph  of  the  faith  of  Christ,  on 
the  1 8th  of  August,  1830.^ 

For  years  past,  Fletcher  and  Whitefield  had  been  sympa- 
thizing and  warm-hearted  friends,  but,  up  to  the  present, 
Whitefield  had  not  been  to  Madeley.  After  Fletcher’s 
departure  from  Yorkshire,  Whitefield  succeeded  him  in  that 
county,  and  glorious  were  the  seasons  which  Lady  Huntingdon 
and  the  great  evangelist  enjoyed  at  Kippax,  Huddersfield, 
Leeds,  and  other  places.  Fletcher  urged  Whitefield  to  call 
at  Madeley  on  his  way  to  what  he  called  his  ‘‘winter  quarters  ” 
in  London  ; but  Whitefield  found  it  impracticable  to  comply 
with  his  friend’s  request.^  Thus  was  lost  an  opportunity 
that  did  not  recur.  Whitefield  never  preached  in  Madeley 
church.  He  died  in  1770. 

The  Countess  of  Huntingdon  spent  the  winter  of  1767 
chiefly  at  Bath,  and  was  in  constant  correspondence  with 
Fletcher  concerning  her  college  at  Trevecca.  Her  proposal 
was  to  admit  no  young  men  except  such  as  were  truly  con- 
verted to  God,  and  resolved  to  dedicate  themselves  to  His 


“ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  296. 
Ibid,  vol.  ii.,  p.  464. 


12  2 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1767. 


service.  All  admitted  might  stay  three  years,  and  be  clothed, 
boarded,  lodged,  and  educated  gratuitously.  Afterwards, 
those  who  desired  it  might  enter  the  Christian  ministry,  either 
in  the  Church  of  England  or  among  Protestants  of  any  other 
denomination.  The  scheme  was  generous,  and  as  free  from 
bigotry  as  it  could  be.  Her  ladyship  had  to  select  first 
of  all  a president,  and  her  choice  fell  upon  Fletcher.  He 
accepted  her  invitation.  It  was  impossible  that  he  should 
be  generally  resident  at  Trevecca,  much  less  constantly;  his 
duty  to  his  Madeley  parishioners  would  not  admit  of  this; 
but  he  promised  to  attend  as  often  as  he  conveniently  could ; 
to  give  advice  respecting  the  appointment  of  masters  and  the 
admission  of  students  ; to  revise  the  studies  and  conduct  of 
the  latter,  and  to  assist  their  piety,  and  judge  of  their  qualifi- 
cations for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  All  this  was  to  be 
done  without  any  fee  or  reward  whatever. 

The  plan  for  the  examination  of  candidates  for  admission 
was  drawn  up  by  her  ladyship.  It  was  then  submitted  to 
Romaine,  Venn,  Wesley,  and  others,  and  received  their 
approval.  The  Countess  finally  sent  it  to  her  president 
elect,  who  returned  the  following  answer  : — 

Madeley,  November  24,  1767. 

My  Dear  Lady, — I received  the  proposals  which  your  ladyship  has 
drawn  up  for  the  examination  of  the  young  men  who  may  appear  proper 
candidates  for  the  Trevecca  academy  ; and  I gratefully  acknowledge 
your  kindness  in  allowing  me  to  propose  suitable  young  men  resident 
in  my  parish. 

“Our  Israel  is  small,  my  lady,  and  if  among  six  hundred  thousand 
only  two  faithful  men  were  found  of  old,  the  Joshuas  and  Calebs  cannot 
be  numerous  among  us.  After  having  perused  the  articles,  and  looked 
round  about  me,  I designed  to  answer  your  ladyship,  ‘ Out  of  this  Galilee 
ariseth  no  frophet,^  With  this  resolution  I went  to  bed,  but,  in  my 
sleep,  was  much  taken  up  with  the  thought  and  remembrance  of  one  of 
my  young  colliers,  who  told  me,  some  months  ago,  that  for  four  years 
he  had  been  inwardly  persuaded  he  should  be  called  to  speak  for  God. 
I looked  upon  the  unusual  impression  of  my  dream  as  a call  to  speak  to 
the  young  man,  and  at  waking  desired  to  do  so  at  the  first  opportunity. 
To  my  great  surprise,  he  came  to  Madeley  that  very  morning,  and  I 
found  upon  enquiry  that  he  had  been  as  much  drawn  to  come  as  I to 
speak  to  him.  This  encouraged  me  to  speak  of  your  ladyship’s  design, 
and  I was  satisfied  by  his  conversation  that  I might  venture  to  propose 
him  to  your  ladyship  for  further  examination. 

“ His  name  is  James  Glazebrook,  collier  and  getter  of  ironstone  in 


Age  38.]  FUtcher,  Chaplain  of  the  Earl  of  Buchan.  123 


Madeley  wood.  He  is  now  twenty-three — by  look  nineteen.  He  has 
been  awakened  seven  years.  He  has  been  steady  from  the  beginning 
of  his  profession,  at  least  so  far  as  to  be  kept  outwardly  unblameable, 
but  has  seemed  to  me  to  walk  mostly  in  heaviness.  What  I told  him 
was  as  oil  put  into  a glimmering  lamp,  and  he  seems  to  revive  upon 
hearing  of  the  little  outward  call.  Notwithstanding  his  strong  desire 
to  exhort,  he  has  not  yet  attempted  to  do  so ; and  his  not  being  forward 
to  run  of  himself,  makes  me  have  the  better  hope  his  call  is  from  God. 
He  has  no  mean  gift  in  singing  and  prayer.  His  judgment  and  sense 
are  superior  to  his  station,  and  he  does  not  seem  to  be  discouraged  by 
the  severest  part  of  your  ladyship’s  proposals.  One  difficulty  stood  in 
the  way.  He  maintains  by  his  labour  his  aged  mother;  but  this  is  made 
easy  by  his  mother’s  leave,  and  the  promise  of  an  elder  son  to  maintain 
her  if  he  can  have  his  brother’s  place  in  the  pit. 

With  regard  to  the  superintendency  of  the  college,  or  the  examina- 
tion of  the  candidates,  I know  myself  too  well  to  dream  about  it;  never- 
theless, so  far  as  my  present  calling  and  poor  abilities  will  allow,  I am 
ready  to  throw  my  mite  into  the  treasury. 

Some  of  our  conversations  upon  the  manifestations  of  the  Son  of 
Man  to  the  heart  have  led  me  into  many  an  hour’s  consideration.  The 
Holy  Ghost  alone  can  clear  up  the  points  to  pursue.  Nevertheless,  I 
have  found  both  comfort  and  profit  in  setting  upon  paper  the  reflections 
I have  been  enabled  to  make  upon  the  mysterious  subject ; and  they 
have,  through  mercy,  set  my  soul  more  than  ever  against  the  rampant 
errors  of  Sandemanianism.  Should  Providence  ever  favour  me  with  an 
opportunity,  I would  bespeak  an  hour  of  your  ladyship’s  time  to  ratify 
my  views  of  the  point,  under  God. 

I am  happily  provided  with  a schoolmaster  to  my  mind,  and  my 
ministry  is  the  last  under  which  I would  advise  any  one  intended  for  a 
preacher  to  sit.  Nevertheless,  if  the  young  candidate,  (Mr.  Eastwood) 
mentioned  in  the  letter,  wants  retirement  and  a prophet’s  room  at  my 
house  he  may  have  it,  if  he  can  cook  for  himself  or  find  a table  in  the 
neighbourhood.”  * 

There  is  only  one  other  incident,  in  the  life  of  Fletcher, 
deserving  attention  and  belonging  to  the  year  1767  ; and  as 
it  can  be  summarily  dispatched,  it  may  be  best  to  mention  it  at 
once,  before  returning  to  two  matters  in  his  letter  to  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon,  which  will  require  more  extended  notice. 

On  December  i,  the  tenth  Earl  of  Buchan  died  at  Bath, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  who  appointed  Fletcher,  Venn, 
and  Berridge  to  be  his  chaplains.  In  a letter  to  Lady 
Huntingdon,  referring  to  the  appointment,  Fletcher  wrote: — 

“ I have  just  received  a letter  from  Lord  Buchan,  in  which  he  says, 
^ Pray  for  me,  that  I also  may  be  found  faithful  when  our  Master  calls 


^ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  82. 


124 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1767. 


for  me,  and  that  I may  live  a martyr  to  redeeming  love,  and  die  a trophy  \ 

and  a monument  of  the  reality  of  the  despised  influences  of  the  Holy  \ 

Ghost/  It  is  a singular  honour  to  belong  to  so  excellent  a nobleman.  < 

Oh  ! how  far  below  his  grace  is  his  nobility  ! I feel  a strong  desire  to  > 

pray  that  he  may  be  kept  from  the  fickleness  of  youth  ‘ and  the  baits  of 
ambition.  I share  in  the  happiness  of  Lady  Buchan  and  Lady  Anne  ^ 
Erskine  upon  the  occasion.  May  God  make  them,  together  with  your 
ladyship,  a fourfold  cord  to  draw  sinners  unto  Jesus. 

Fletcher  evidently  was  pleased  with  his  appointment.  The 
emoluments  of  his  new  office  probabty  were  small,  perhaps 
nil;  but,  by  means  of  it,  he  became  associated  with  one  of 
the  most  pious  and  exemplary  noblemen  of  the  day. 

To  recur  to  Fletchers  former  letter  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon. 

He  nominated  James  Glazebrook  as  a fitting  candidate  to 
be  examined  for  admission  into  Lady  Huntingdon’s  intended 
college.  As  already  stated,  Glazebrook  was  a poor,  hard- 
working collier.  He  was  without  money  and  without  learning; 
but  he  had  two  of  the  three  things  by  which  Wesley  tested 
the  Divine  call  of  his  itinerants  to  preach  ; namely,  grace  ” 
and  "'gifts ; ” and  Fletcher  had  no  doubt  that  when  the 
opportunity  arrived,  he  would  have  the  third — "yruitr 
Wesley’s  own  definitions  of  these  three  words  were  : — 

Grace : a knowledge  of  God  as  a pardoning  God ; the  love  of  God 
abiding  in  them  ; desiring  and  seeking  nothing  but  God ; and  the  being 
holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation.  Gifts : in  some  tolerable  degree  a 
clear,  sound  understanding  ; a right  judgment  in  the  things  of  God;  a 
just  conception  of  salvation  by  faith ; and  a degree  of  utterance  so  as 
to  be  able  to  speak  justly,  readily,  clearly.  Frtiit : are  any  truly  con- 
vinced of  sin  and  converted  to  God  by  their  preaching  ? As  long  as 
these  three  marks  concur  in  any,  we  believe  he  is  called  of  God  to 
preach.” 

Whether  Fletcher  adopted  Wesley’s  threefold  test,  and 
applied  it  to  James  Glazebrook,  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain; 
but  that  his  opinion  of  the  young  man  was  correct,  subsequent 
events  fully  proved.  Glazebrook  was  one  of  Fletcher’s 
converts.  Fie  was  one  of  the  first  students  at  Trevecca 
college,  if  not  the  very  first.  There  he  distinguished  himself 


The  new  earl  was  only  twenty-four  years  of  age. 

“ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  19. 


Age  38.] 


y antes  Glazebrook, 


125 


equally  by  his  superior  abilities  and  his  uncommon  diligence. 
He  allowed  himself  but  little  time  for  refreshment,  rest,  or 
recreation.  His  piety  was  as  remarkable  as  his  gifts  and 
diligence.  He  was  soon  sent  forth  to  preach,  and  his  labours 
were  attended  with  considerable  success.  For  three  years, 
he  was  thus  employed  in  various  parts  of  England.  He 
then  tired  of  the  itinerant  life,  and  desired  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  to  procure  him  orders  in  the  Established  Church. 
With  the  assistance  of  Eletcher  a title  was  obtained,  and 
Glazebrook  was  ordained  deacon  by  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield, 
in  December  1771.  Soon  after  his  ordination,  he  entered 
on  the  curacy  of  Smisby,  in  Derbyshire  ; after  which  he 
served  the  curacies  of  Rowley  Regis,  near  Birmingham  ; 
Shawbury,  Shropshire  ; Ravenstone,  in  Derbyshire  ; and 
Hugglescote,  in  Leicestershire.  In  1777,  he  was  ordained 
priest  by  Dr.  Hurd,  Bishop  of  Worcester.  Two  years  later,  he 
married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Kirkland,  Esq.,  M.D., 
of  Ashby-de-la-Zouch,  an  intimate  friend  of  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  ; and,  soon  after  his  marriage,  became  minister 
of  St.  James’s,  Warrington.  Ultimately,  Lord  Moira  pre- 
sented him  to  the  vicarage  of  Belton, a village  in  Leicestershire, 
whose  living  even  now  is  not  worth  more  than  about  £180 
a year.  Here  he  continued  till  the  time  of  his  decease;  and 
here,  as  well  as  at  Warrington  and  other  places,  he  was  made 
the  honoured  instrument  of  “turning  many  to  righteousness.” 
Besides  his  ministerial  labours,  he  wrote  and  published  a 
“ Treatise  on  Extemporary  Preaching,”  “ Letters  on  Infant 
Baptism,”  an  “Answer  to  Gilbert  Wakefield’s  Treatise  on 
Baptism,”  and,  after  his  death,  his  family  published  a volume 
of  his  sermons,  which  was  well  received  by  the  public.  Such, 
in  brief,  was  the  history  of  Fletcher’s  convert  and  protege. 
Further  particulars  concerning  him  may  be  found  in  the 
Evangelical  Register  ior  1836. 

The  other  matter,  requiring  attention,  in  Fletcher’s  letter 
to  Lady  Huntingdon,  under  the  date  of  November  24,  1767, 
is  his  reference  to  the  conversations  he  had  had  with  her 
ladyship  upon  the  “ Manifestations  of  the  Son  of  Man  to 
the  heart,”  and  the  fact  that  he  had  devoutly  studied  this 
mysterious  subject  for  “ many  hours,”  and  had  put  his 
thoughts  “upon  paper.”  This  important  manuscript  was 


126 


Wesley’ s Designated  Successor. 


[1767. 


not  published  until  after  Fletcher’s  death.  The  editor  of  his 
collected  works,  in  a brief  preface,  says  : — 

For  the  Letters  on  the  Manifestation  of  Christ,  the  reader  is  obliged 
to  Mrs.  Fletcher.  When  they  were  written,  or  to  whom  they  are  ad- 
dressed, is  uncertain;  but,  from  the  beginning  of  the  first  letter,  the 
decayed  state  of  the  manuscript,  and  the  extreme  smallness  of  the 
character,  which  could  scarcely  have  been  legible  to  the  author  in  his 
latter  years,  they  are  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  essay  of  a genius 
afterwards  so  much  admired.  The  reader  is  requested  to  remember 
that  the  pious  author  wrote  only  for  himself  and  his  friends  ; that  these 
sheets  want  his  perfecting  hand ; and  that  the  editor  thought  himself 
entitled  to  take  no  liberties. ’’ 

From  this  preface,  it  is  evident  that  the  editor  was  not 
acquainted  with  the  foregoing  letter  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon;  and  it  may  be  added,  that  there  is  no  need 
for  the  apology,  that  the  “ sheets  want  Fletcher's  “ perfecting 
hand." 

The  Letters  are  six  in  number,  and  fill  fifty-three  octavo 
pages  in  Fletcher’s  collected  works.^  It  is  extremely  difficult 
to  give,  in  a brief  form,  the  substance  of  these  important 
papers  ; and  yet  the  task  must  be  attempted,  because  the 
subject  is  one  of  great  interest^  and  because  the  Letters 
seem  to  have  been  among  the  earliest  of  his  compositions, 
that  were  afterwards  published. 

His  object  is  clearly  stated  in  his  opening  paragraph  : — 

When  I had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  last,  you  seemed  surprised 
to  hear  me  say,  that  the  Son  of  God,  for  purposes  worthy  of  His  wisdom, 
manifests  Himself,  sooner  or  later,  to  all  His  sincere  followers,  in  a 
spiritual  manner,  which  the  world  knows  not  of.  The  assertion  appeared 
to  you  unscriptural,  enthusiastical,  and  dangerous.  What  I then  ad- 
vanced to  prove  that  it  was  scriptural,  rational,  and  of  the  greatest 
importance,  made  you  desire  I would  write  you  on  the  mysterious  sub- 
ject. I declined  it,  as  being  unequal  to  the  task;  but,  having  since 
considered  that  a mistake  here  may  endanger  your  soul  or  mine,  I sit 
down  to  comply  with  your  request ; and  the  end  I propose  by  it  is,  either 
to  give  you  a fair  opportunity  of  pointing  out  my  error,  if  I am  wrong, 
or  to  engage  you,  if  I am  right,  to  seek  what  I esteem  the  most  in- 
valuable of  all  blessings, — revelations  of  Christ  to  your  own  soul,  produc- 


^ They  were  first  published  by  the  Rev.  Melville  Horne,  in  1791,  with 
the  title,  Six  Letters  on  the  Spiritual  Manifestation  of  the  Son  of  God.” 


ge  38.]  “ The  Manifestation  of  the  Son  of  God." 


127 


tive  of  the  experimental  knowledge  of  Him,  and  the  present  enjoyment 
of  His  salvation.’’ 

I shall  not  be  able  to  establish  the  doctrine  I maintain  unless  you 
allow  me  the  existence  of  the  proper  senses,  to  which  our  Lord  manifests 
Himself.  The  manifestation  I contend  for  being  of  a spiritual  nature, 
must  be  made  to  spiritual  senses ; and  that  such  senses  exist,  and  are 
opened  in,  and  exercised  by,  regenerate  souls,  is  what  I design  to  prove 
in  this  letter”  (the  first),  by  the  joint  testimony  of  Scripture,  our 
Church,  and  reason.” 

In  his  second  letter,  Fletcher  defines  what  he  means,  and 
does  not  mean,  by  the  manifestations  of  the  Son  of  God  to 
the  soul  of  man.  In  the  third  and  fourth,  he  dwells  on  the 
uses  of  such  manifestations.  The  fifth  contains  a summary 
of  the  numerous  appearances  of  the  Son  of  God  during  the 
Old  Testament  dispensation,  and  concludes  with  answers  to 
the  objection  that  these  appearances  proved  ‘‘  only,  that  God 
favoured  the  patriarchs  and  Jews  with  immediate  revelations 
of  Himself,  because  they  had  neither  the  Gospel  nor  the 
Scriptures.”  Fletcher’s  fourth  answer  to  this  objection  is  so 
characteristic  that  it  must  be  quoted  : — 

‘‘  If,  because  we  have  the  letter  of  Scripture,  we  must  be  deprived  of 
all  immediate  manifestations  of  Christ  and  His  spirit,  we  are  great 
losers  by  that  blessed  book,  and  we  might  reasonably  say,  ‘ Lord,  bring 
us  back  to  the  dispensation  of  Moses!  Thy  Jewish  servants  could 
formerly  converse  with  Thee  face  to  face  ; but  now  we  can  know  nothing 
of  Thee,  but  by  their  writings.  They  viewed  Thy  glory  in  various 
wonderful  appearances  ; but  we  are  indulged  only  with  black  lines  telling 
us  of  Thy  glory.  They  had  the  bright  Shekinah,  and  we  have  only 
obscure  descriptions  of  it.  They  were  blessed  with  lively  oracles  ; and 
we  only  with  a dead  letter.  The  ark  of  Thy  covenant  went  before  them, 
and  struck  terror  into  all  their  adversaries ; but  a book,  of  which  our 
enemies  make  daily  sport,  is  the  only  revelation  of  Thy  power  among 
us.  They  made  their  boast  of  Urim  and  Thummim,  and  received  par- 
ticular, immediate  answers  from  between  the  cherubim ; but  we  have 
only  general  ones,  by  means  of  Hebrew  and  Greek  writings,  which 
many  do  not  understand.  They  conversed  familiarly  with  Moses  their 
mediator,  with  Aaron  their  high  priest,  and  with  Samuel  their  prophet ; 
these  holy  men  gave  them  unerring  directions  in  doubtful  cases ; but, 
alas!  the  apostles  and  inspired  men  are  all  dead;  and  Thou,  Jesus, 
our  Mediator,  Priest,  and  Prophet,  canst  not  be  consulted  to  any  pur- 
pose, for  Thou  manifestest  Thyself  no  more.  As  for  Thy  sacred  book. 
Thou  knowest  that  sometimes  the  want  of  money  to  purchase  it,  the 
want  of  learning  to  consult  the  original,  the  want  of  wisdom  to  under- 
stand the  translation,  the  want  of  skill  or  sight  to  read  it,  prevent  our 


128 


Wesley^  Designated  Successor. 


[1767. 


improving  it  to  the  best  advantage,  and  keep  some  from  reaping  any 
benefit  from  it  at  all.  O Lord  ! if,  because  we  have  this  blessed  picture 
of  Thee,  we  must  have  no  discovery  of  the  glorious  original,  have  com- 
passion on  us,  take  back  Thy  precious  book,  and  impart  Thy  more 
precious  Self  to  us,  as  Thou  didst  to  Thy  ancient  people  ! ” 

In  his  sixth  and  last  Letter,  Fletcher  proves  that  the  New 
Testament,  as  well  as  the  Old,  abounds  with  accounts  of 
particular  revelations  of  the  Son  of  God  and  he  concludes 
thus  : — 

Having  thus  led  you  from  Genesis  to  Revelation,  I conclude  by  two 
inferences,  which  appear  to  me  undeniable.  The  first,  that  it  is  evident 
our  Lord,  before  His  incarnation,  during  His  stay  on  earth,  and  after 
His  ascension  into  heaven,  hath  been  pleased,  in  a variety  of  manners, 
to  manifest  Himself  to  the  children  of  men,  both  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Church  in  general,  and  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  the  establish- 
ment of  saints  in  particular.  Secondly,  that  the  doctrine,  which  I main- 
tain, is  as  old  as  Adam,  as  modern  as  St.  John,  the  last  of  the  inspired 
writers,  and  as  scriptural  as  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  which  is  what  I 
wanted  to  demonstrate.’’ 

This  is  an  imperfect  outline  of  Fletcher's  production,  but 
want  of  space  prevents  enlargement.  Some,  with  a scornful 
jeer,  will  brand  Fletcher  as  a mystic  ; and  others,  sincerely 
in  search  of  truth,  but  who  have  not  experienced  that  of 
which  he  speaks,  will  ask  his  meaning.  Leaving  the 
former  to  their  own  infidel  or  pharisaic  wisdom,  it  may  be 
said  in  reply  to  the  latter,  Fletcher  meant  nothing  more  than 
what  Christ  Himself  meant  in  His  sixth  beatitude,  ‘‘  Blessed 
are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God;  ” and  again,  in 
one  of  His  latest  utterances,  “ He  that  hath  My  command- 
ments and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  Me  ; and  he 
that  loveth  Me  shall  be  loved  of  My  Father,  and  I will  love 
him,  and  will  manifest  Myself  to  him!'  Or,  again,  Fletcher 
meant  what  St.  Paul  meant  in  texts  like  the  following : — 
The  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  ; for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him  ; neither  can  he 
know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned."  God, 
who  commanded  the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath 
shined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ."  Now  faith 
is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things 
not  seen." 


Age  38.] 


The  Manifestation  of  the  Son  of  God T 


129 


(( 


If  it  be  asked,  again,  what  is  the  meaning  of  these  and 
such  like  texts  ? it  may  be  answered,  substantially, — the 
meaning  is  the  same  as  what  is  meant  by  stanzas  like  the 
following,  written  by  John  or  Charles  Wesley,  and  selected 
from  their  Hymn  Book,  almost  at  random  : — 

“ Spirit  of  faith,  come  down, 

Reveal  the  things  of  God ; 

And  make  to  us  the  Godhead  known, 

And  witness  with  the  blood. 

O that  the  world  might  know 
The  all-atoning  Lamb  ! 

Spirit  of  faith  ! descend  and  show 
The  virtue  of  His  name.” 

Come,  Holy  Ghost,  (for  moved  by  Thee 
The  prophets  wrote  and  spoke), 

Unlock  the  truth.  Thyself  the  key, 

Unseal  the  sacred  Book. 

Expand  Thy  wings,  celestial  Dove, 

Brood  o’er  our  nature’s  night ; 

Oh,  our  disordered  spirits  move, 

And  let  there  now  be  light. 

God,  through  Himself,  we  then  shall  know. 

If  Thou  within  us  shine  ; 

And  sound,  with  all  Thy  saints  below, 

The  depths  of  love  divine.” 

Author  of  faith,  eternal  word. 

Whose  spirit  breathes  the  active  flame ; 

Faith,  like  its  finisher  and  Lord, 

To-day,  as  yesterday,  the  same  : 

To  Thee  our  humble  hearts  aspire, 

And  ask  the  gift  unspeakable  : 

Increase  in  us  the  kindled  fire, 

In  us  the  work  of  faith  fulfil. 

The  things  unknown  to  feeble  sense. 

Unseen  by  reason’s  glimmering  ray, 

With  strong,  commanding  evidence. 

Their  heavenly  origin  display. 

Faith  lends  its  realizing  light. 

The  clouds  disperse,  the  shadows  fly ; 

The  Invisible  appears  in  sight. 

And  God  is  seen  by  mortal  eye.” 

O disclose  Thy  lovely  face. 

Quicken  all  my  drooping  powers  ; 

Gasps  my  fainting  soul  for  grace. 

As  a thirsty  land  for  showers ; 


9 


130 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor, 


[1767. 


Haste,  my  Lord,  no  more  delay ! 

Come,  my  Saviour,  come  away ! 

Dark  and  cheerless  is  the  morn. 

Unaccompanied  by  Thee ; 

Joyless  is  the  day’s  return. 

Till  Thy  mercy’s  beams  I see ; 

Till  Thou  inward  light  impart. 

Glad  my  eyes  and  warm  my  heart. 

Visit,  then,  this  soul  of  mine. 

Pierce  the  gloom  of  sin  and  grief ; 

Fill  me.  Radiancy  Divine, 

Scatter  all  my  unbelief; 

More  and  more  Thyself  display. 

Shining  to  the  perfect  day.” 

If  it  be  asked,  again,  what  means  all  this  } let  the  enquirer 
carefully  and  devoutly  read  Fletcher’s  Six  Letters.  He  will 
be  wiser  and  better  for  his  exercise  ; and  will  ascertain  that 
Fletcher  and  Wesley  were  not,  in  the  vulgar  sense  of  the 
expression,  bewildered  and  bewildering  mystics,  but  spiritually 
enlightened,  sober,  scriptural  divines,  who,  with  reverential 
and  joyous  hearts,  could  sing  : — 

What  we  have  felt  and  seen. 

With  confidence  we  tell ; 

And  publish  to  the  sons  of  men 
The  signs  infallible. 

We  by  His  Spirit  prove 

V And  know  the  things  of  God,- 

The  things,  which  freely  of  His  love 
He  hath  on  us  bestow’d. 

His  glory  our  design. 

We  live  our  God  to  please  ; 

And  rise,  with  filial  fear  divine 
To  perfect  holiness.” 


Age  38.] 


Joseph  Easterbrook. 


131 


CHAPTER  VIL 

TREVECCA  COLLEGE:  VISIT  TO  SWITZER- 

LAND, ETC. 

FROM  JANUARY  3,  I 768,  TO  JULY  1/70. 

IN  Fletcher's  letter  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  dated  Novem- 
ber 24,  1767,  it  is  intimated  that  the  Countess  had 
suggested  to  Fletcher  that  a certain  “ Mr.  Eastwood"  could 
serve  him  as  his  village  schoolmaster,  and  was  anxious  to  do 
so,  in  order  to  have  the  benefit  of  Fletcher's  ministry.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  name  “Eastwood"  is  a mistake, 
and  that  “ Easterbrook"  was  meant. 

Joseph  Easterbrook  was  a son  of  the  bell-man  of  Bristol, 
and  had  been  educated  at  Wesley's  Kingswood  School.^  He 
was  now  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  came  to  reside 
at  Madeley.^  Afterwards  he  obtained  episcopal  ordination, 
and  became  Vicar  of  the  Temple  Church,  Bristol,  and  Ordi- 
nary of  Newgate  Prison  in  that  city.  He  continued  faithful 
to  Wesley  and  to  Methodism  ; and,  it  is  said,  he  preached  a 
sermon  in  every  house  in  his  large  parish.  He  died  in  1791, 
in  the  fortieth  year  of  his  age.  This  is  not  the  place  to  give 
further  details  of  his  history  ; but  it  is  hoped  that  those 
now  related  will  add  to  the  interest  of  what  Fletcher  writes 
concerning  him  in  the  following  letter  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,  in  reply  to  one  she  had  addressed  to  him 


^ “ Unpublished  Letter  by  John  Pawson.’’ 

^ Misled  by  the  author  of  the  “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,”  I have  stated  in  my  “ Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  that, 
at  the  opening  of  Trevecca  College,  Easterbrook  was  appointed  to  the 
office  of  master.  This  is  a mistake.  The  master,  as  will  be  seen  in 
succeeding  pages,  was  a wonderful  child,  twelve  years  old ! Perhaps, 
however,  Easterbrook  rendered  some  assistance. — L.  T. 


132 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1768. 


respecting  suitable  books  for  the  students  of  her  intended 
college  : — 

“Madeley,  January  'i,  1768. 

“My  Lady, — I thank  your  ladyship  for  having-  recommended  to  me 
Easterbrook.  I hope  he  will  be  the  captain  of  the  school,  and  a great 
help  to  the  master,  as  well  as  a spur  to  the  students.  He  has  good 
parts,  a most  happy  memory,  and  a zeal  that  would  gladden  your  lady- 
ship’s heart.  He  has  preached  no  less  than  four  times  to-day;  and 
seems,  indeed,  in  his  own  element  when  he  is  seeking  after  the  lost 
sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel.  He  is  employed  every  evening  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord  ; and  I give  him  the  more  opportunity  to  exercise  his  talent, 
as  it  appears  he  does  it  far  better  than  I.  I beg  two  things  for  him  : 
first,  that  it  may  hold ; secondly,  that  he  may  be  kept  humble.  He 
would  at  first  live  upon  potatoes  and  water ; but,  finding  it  may  impair 
his  health,  I have  got  him  to  table  with  me,  and  shall  gladly  pay  his 
board.  He  works  for  me,  and  the  workman  is  worthy  of  his  hire. 

“ Our  young  collier”  (Glazebrook)  “ seems  a little  discouraged  with 
regard  to  the  hope  of  his  being  admitted  one  of  your  students.  He 
thinks  he  stands  no  chance,  if  all  must  be  qualified  as  he”  (Easter- 
brook) “ is. 

“ With  regard  to  books,  I am  in  doubt  what  to  write  your  ladyship. 
Having  studied  abroad,  and  used  rather  foreign  than  English  books 
with  my  pupils”  (Mr.  Hill’s  sons),  “ I am  not  well  enough  acquainted 
with  the  books  Great  Britain  affords  to  select  the  best  and  most  concise. 
Besides,  a plan  of  studies  must  be  fixed  upon  first,  before  proper  books 
can  be  chosen.  Grammar,  logic,  rhetoric,  ecclesiastical  history,  and 
a little  natural  philosophy  and  geography,  with  a great  deal  of  practical 
divinity,  will  be  sufficient  for  those  who  do  not  care  to  dive  into  lan- 
guages. Mr.  Townsend  and  Charles  Wesley  might,  by  spending  an 
hour  or  two  together,  make  a proper  choice  ; and  I would  recommend 
them  not  to  forget  Watt’s  ‘Logic,’  and  his  ‘History  of  the  Bible,  by 
Questions  and  Answers,’  which  seem  to  me  excellent  books  of  the  kind 
for  clearness  and  order.  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Natural  Philosophy’  contains 
as  much  as  is  wanted,  or  more.  Mason’s  ‘Essay  on  Pronunciation’ 
will  be  worth  their  attention.  ‘ Henry  and  Gill  on  the  Bible,’  with  the 
four  volumes  of  Baxter’s  ‘Practical  Works,’  Reach’s  ‘Metaphors,’ 
‘Taylor  on  the  Types,’  Gurnal’s  ‘Christian  Armour,’  ‘Edwards  on 
Preaching,’  Johnson’s  English  Dictionary,  and  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Christian 
Library,’  may  make  part  of  the  little  library.  The  book  of  Baxter,  I 
mention,  I shall  take  care  to  send  to  Trevecca,  as  a mite  towards  the 
collection,  together  with  Usher’s  ‘ Body  of  Divinity,’  Scapula’s  Greek 
Lexicon,  and  Littleton’s  Latin  Dictionary. 

“With  regard  to  those  who  propose  to  learn  Latin  and  Greek,  the 
master  your  ladyship  will  appoint  may  choose  to  follow  his  particular 
method.  Mr.  Wesley’s  books,  printed  for  the  use  of  Christian  youths, 
seem  to  me  short  and  proper,  and  their  expense  less,  which,  I suppose, 
should  be  consulted.  Two  or  three  dictionaries  of  Bailey  or  Dyke  for 


Age  38.]  Books  to  be  used  at  Trevecca  College. 


133 


those  who  learn  English,  with  two  or  three  Coles’s  Dictionaries,  Shreve- 
lins’s,  and  Pasor’s,  for  those  who  will  learn  Latin  and  Greek,  may  be  a 
sufficient  stock  at  first. 

'‘Mr.  Edward  Stillingfleet^  is  presented,  by  Mr.  Hill,  to  the  living  of 
Shawbury,  eight  miles  from  Shrewsbury,  and  twenty  from  here.  I thank 
the  Lord  for  this  fellow-helper. 

" I am,  your  ladyship’s  unworthy  servant, 

"J.  Fletcher.”^ 

The  reader  may  learn  two  facts  from  Fletcher’s  letter. 
First,  what  were  the  books  in  divinity  he  most  loved  and 
prized.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  such  books  are  no  longer 
popular.  In  the  case  of  many  theological  students,  they 
have  given  place  to  the  flimsy  and  even  sceptical  productions 
of  a later  period.  The  more  the  pity.  No  wonder  that  so 
many  pulpits  are  spiritless,  and  that  so  many  pews  are 
starved. 

Secondly  : It  is  also  evident  that  Fletcher  had  already 
formed  a sort  of  circuit  of  preaching  places,  otherwise  a 
youth  like  Easterbrook  could  hardly  have  found  the  oppor- 
tunity to  preach  every  evening  in  the  week,  and  four  times 
on  Sunday.  It  is  now  impossible  to  ascertain  what  the 
places  were ; but  Wesley’s  testimony  may  here  be  appro- 
priately introduced, 

" From  the  beginning,  Mr.  Fletcher  did  not  confine  his  labours  to  his 
own  parish.  For  many  years,  he  regularly  preached  at  places,  eight, 
ten,  or  sixteen  miles  off,  returning  the  same  night,  though  he  seldom 
got  home  before  one  or  two  in  the  morning.  At  a little  Society  which 
he  had  gathered  about  six  miles  from  Madeley,  he  preached  two  or 
three  times  a week,  beginning  at  five  in  the  morning.”^ 

Of  course,  all  this  was  ecclesiastically  irregular,  and  a 
repetition  of  it  would  not  be  permitted  now  ; but,  fortunately 
for  the  people  who  sat  in  darkness,”  it  was,  except  in  a 
few  instances,  only  a peccadillo  a hundred  years  ago,  at  which 
bishops,  priests,  and  deacons  found  it  a convenience  to  them- 
selves to  wink. 


^ A great-grandson  of  the  celebrated  bishop  of  that  name.  He  proved 
himself  to  be  a faithful  friend  to  Venn,  and  the  other  evangelical  clergy- 
men of  the  age. 

^ Methodist  Magazine.,  1821,  p.  437. 

^ Wesley’s  " Life  of  Fletcher.” 


134 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1768. 


It  was  at  this  time  that  Wesley  wrote  to  Fletcher  his 
unusually  long  and  well-known  letter  on  conversation.  The 
following  are  brief  extracts  from  it  : — 

''  Birmingham,  March  20,  1768. 

Dear  Sir,— Mr.  Easterbrook  told  me  yesterday  that  you  are  sick 
of  the  conversation  even  of  them  who  profess  religion, — that  you  find  it 
quite  unprofitable,  if  not  hurtful,  to  converse  with  them  three  or  four 
hours  together,  and  are  sometimes  almost  determined  to  shut  yourself 
up,  as  the  less  evil  of  the  two. 

do  not  wonder  at  it  at  all,  especially  considering  with  whom  you 
have  chiefly  conversed  for  some  time  past,  namely,  the  hearers  of 
Mr.  Madan,  or  Mr.  Bourian,  perhaps  I might  add,  of  Mr.  Whitefield. 
The  conversing  with  these  I have  rarely  found  to  be  profitable  to  my  soul. 
Rather  it  has  damped  my  designs  ; it  has  cooled  my  resolutions  ; and 
I have  consciously  left  them  with  a dry,  dissipated  spirit. 

Again;  you  have,  for  some  time,  conversed  a good  deal  with  the 
genteel  Methodists.  Now  it  matters  not  a straw  what  doctrine  they 
hear, — whether  they  frequent  the  Lock  or  West  Street,; — they  are,  almost 
all,  salt  which  has  lost  its  savour,  if  ever  they  had  any.  They  are 
thoroughly  conformed  to  the  maxims,  the  spirit,  the  fashions,  and 
customs  of  the  world. 

But  were  these  or  those  of  ever  so  excellent  a spirit,  you  conversed 
with  them  too  long.  One  had  need  to  be  an  angel,  not  a man,  to  con- 
verse three  or  four  hours  at  once,  to  any  purpose. 

But  have  you  not  a remedy  for  all  this  in  your  hands  ? In  order  to 
truly  profitable  conversation,  may  you  not  select  persons  clear  of  both 
Calvinism  and  Antinomianism  ? not  fond  of  that  luscious  way  of  talking, 
but  standing  in  awe  of  Him  they  love  ; who  are  vigorously  working  out 
their  salvation,  and  are  athirst  for  full  redemption,  and  every  moment 
expecting  it,  if  not  already  enjoying  it  ? ^ 

Apart  from  the  subject  of  this  letter,  it  is  of  importance, 
as  showing  that  the  maelstrom  of  the  Calvinian  controversy 
was  already  stirring,  and  that  Wesley  was  afraid  of  Fletcher 
being  drawn  into  it.  This  would  be  much  more  apparent 
could  the  letter  be  quoted  here  in  extenso.  Suffice  it  to 
add,  that  Fletcher  was  preserved  from  the  spreading  evils, 
and  that  it  is  difficult  to  tell  how  much  he  was  indebted 
to  Wesley’s  long  warning  letter  for  his  escape  from  danger. 

So  far  as  Fletcher  was  concerned,  the  great  event  of  the 
year  1768  was  the  opening  of  Lady  Huntingdon’s  College 


Tyerman’s  ITe  and  Times  of  Wesley,’^  vol.  iii.,  p.  4. 


Age  38.] 


Letter  to  Whitejietd, 


135 


at  Trevecca.  Wesley  seemed  to  disapprove  of  her  ladyship’s 
design.  In  a letter  to  his  brother  Charles,  he  wrote  : — 

Edinburgh,  May  14,  1768. — I am  glad  Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  with 
you.  But,  if  the  tutor  fails,  what  will  become  of  our  College  at  Trevecca  ? 
Did  you  ever  see  anything  more  queer  than  their  plan  of  institution  ? 
Pray,  who  penned  it,  man  or  woman?  I am  afraid  the  Visitor” 
(Fletcher)  *^too  will  fail.”  ^ 

Meanwhile,  however,  an  occurrence  had  taken  place,  which 
appeared  to  make  the  opening  of  Trevecca  College  increas- 
ingly desirable  and  important.  On  the  12th  of  March,  six 
students  belonging  to  Edmund  Hall,  Oxford,  were  expelled 
the  University,  really  and  truly  on  the  ground  that  they 
were  charged  with  being  Methodists.  The  event,  as  may 
easily  be  imagined,  created  a national  sensation.  Numbers 
of  tracts  and  pamphlets,  pro  et  co7t^  were  published  ; and, 
among  others,  one  by  Whitefield,  entitled,  A Letter  to  the 
Reverend  Dr.  Durell,  Vice-Chancellor  of  the  University  of 
Oxford  ; occasioned  by  a late  Expulsion  of  Six  Students 
from  Edmund  Hall.”  Whitefield’s  letter  was  dated  April  12, 
1768,  exactly  a month  after  the  expulsions  took  place. 
Fletcher  read  it  with  approbation,  and  wrote  to  Whitefield, 
thanking  him  for  the  service  he  had  rendered  to  the  cause  of 
truth  ; and  also  referring  to  a recent  visit  to  Bristol,  to  the 
Rev.  Cradock  Glascott,  who  had  supplied  for  him  at  Madeley; 
and  to  the  prospect  there  was  of  obtaining  a suitable  master, 
from  Suffolk,  for  the  College  at  Trevecca.  Fletcher’s  letter 
was  as  follows  : — 

''  Madeley,  May  28,  1768. 

“ Reverend  and  Dear  Sir, — I thank  you,  though  late,  for  the  kind 
leave  you  gave  me  of  trying  to  pipe  where  you  trumpet  the  name  of  our 
dear  Redeemer,  in  Bristol.  I ask  you,  and  my  hearers  there,  and,  above 
all,  our  gracious  Lord,  to  pardon  me  for  the  wretched  manner  in  which 
I performed,  or  rather  spoiled,  the  glorious  work. 

I thank  you,  also,  for  your  letter  to  the  Vice-Chancellor.  Mr. 
Talbot  2 treated  us  with  the  reading  of  it  at  our  meeting  of  the  clergy  at 
Birmingham ; and  I saw  applause  and  satisfaction  sitting  upon  every 
brow. 

‘‘  Lady  Huntingdon,  in  a few  lines  I had  lately,  mentions  that  Pro- 


* Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xii.,  p.  126. 

No  doubt,  the  Rev.  William  Talbot,  LL.D.,  Vicar  of  Kineton,  in 
Warwickshire. 


136 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1768. 


vidence  raises  a master  for  her  school  from  Suffolk,  who  promises  well. 
She  desires  he  may  be  secured,  if  approved  of.  Perhaps  you  know  him ; 
and  you  are  the  best  judge  whether  he  is  likely  to  answer.  For  my 
part,  I am  willing  to  put  my  smoking  flax  to  the  tapers  of  my  brethren 
and  fathers,  when  they  endeavour  to  throw  some  light  and  order  upon 
her  ladyship’s  design ; but  I feel  my  place  should  be  among  the 
scholars,  rather  than  among  the  Directors. 

Mr.  Glascott  quitted  himself  as  a faithful  and  able  minister,  during 
his  stay  here.  Thousands  attended  him  in  the  next  parish,  where  he 
nobly  took  the  field.  Nevertheless,  I see  a curse  of  barrenness  upon 
this  neighbourhood,  which  makes  me  groan  for  a day  of  Pentecost. 
God  hasten  it  in  His  time  ! You  will  please  to  remember  that  you  are 
a debtor  to  our  barbarians,  as  well  as  to  the  Greeks  in  London.  When 
you  come,  my  pulpit  will  be  honoured,  greatly  honoured,  to  hold  you,  if 
my  church  cannot  hold  your  congregation.”  ^ 

Who  ‘‘the  master  from  Suffolk”  was,  has  never  yet  been 
stated.  The  matter  is  of  little  consequence.  In  the  month 
of  July,  Wesley  visited  Fletcher,  and,  no  doubt,  they  con- 
versed concerning  the  College  at  Trevecca  ; but  Wesley’s 
account  of  his  visit  is  so  brief  as  to  be  almost  significant 
that  there  was  something  in  their  interview  that  he  would 
rather  suppress  than  publish.  He  simply  writes:  “1768, 
Sunday,  July  31.  I preached  for  Mr.  Fletcher  in  the  morn- 
ing; and  in  the  evening  at  Shrewsbury.”^  Within  a month 
after  this,  the  college  was  opened  ; but,  instead  of  being  at 
Trevecca,  Wesley  was  in  Cornwall. 

The  opening  took  place  on  Wednesday,  August  24,  the 
anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Lady  Huntingdon.  In  all 
likelihood,  Fletcher,  the  president,  was  present  ; but  no 
positive  evidence  of  this  has  been  published.  Indeed,  con- 
sidering the  importance  of  the  event,  the  account  of  it  is 
remarkably  brief.  The  best,  in  fact,  so  far  as  I know,  the 
only  one  ever  given  to  the  public,  is  an  extract  from 
Whitefield’s  Memorandum  Book,  as  follows  : — 

‘‘August  24,  1768.  Opened  good  Lady  Huntingdon’s  Chapel  and 
College,  in  the  parish  of  Talgarth,  Brecknockshire,  South  Wales. 
Preached  from  Exodus  xx.  24  : ‘In  all  places  where  I record  My  name, 
I will  come  unto  thee,  and  I will  bless  thee.’  August  25. — Gave  an 
exhortation  to  the  Students,  in  the  College-chapel,  from  Luke  i.  15  : 


Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  255. 
Wesley’s  Journal. 


Age  38.] 


Openmg  of  Trevecca  College. 


137 


^ He  shall  be  great  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord.’  Sunday,  August  28. — 
Preached  in  the  court  before  the  College  (the  congregation  consisting 
of  some  thousands),  from  i Cor.  iii.  ii  : ‘ Other  foundation  can  no  man 
lay,  than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ.’  ” ^ 

To  this  must  be  added  a single  sentence,  from  a letter 
which  Whitefield  wrote  to  Mr.  Keene,  on  August  30  : 
‘‘  What  we  have  seen  and  felt  at  the  College  is  unspeakable.''^ 
That  is  all.  Is  there  an  instance  of  any  other  Methodist 
Institution  so  important  as  this,  the  published  details  of 
whose  opening  services  are  so  pitiably  meagre  } 

It  has  been  said,  there  is  no  positive  proof  that  Fletcher 
was  at  the  opening  of  Trevecca  College  ; but  there  is  in- 
cidental evidence  that  he  was,  and  that  his  friend  James 
Ireland,  Esq.,  was  with  him.  This  will  be  found  in  the 
second  of  the  following  letters  addressed  to  Mr.  Ireland  and 
his  dying  daughter. 

‘‘Madeley,  July  -^0,  1768- 

Dear  Friend, — Uncertain  as  I am  whether  your  daughter  is 
yet  alive,  I know  not  what  to  say,  but  this, — our  Heavenly  Father  ap- 
points all  things  for  the  best.  If  her  days  of  suffering  are  prolonged, 
it  is  to  honour  her  with  a conformity  to  the  crucified  Jesus.  If  they  are 
shortened,  she  will  have  drunk  all  her  cup  of  affliction,  and  found,  at 
the  bottom  of  it,  not  the  bitterness  of  her  sins,  but  the  consolations  of 
our  Saviour’s  Spirit. 

had  lately  some  views  of  death,  and  it  appeared  to  me  in  the 


^ Gillies’  Life  of  Whitefield.” 

^ Trevecca  College  was  supported  at  the  sole  expense  of  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon  till  her  death,  on  June  17,  1791.  “ Had  her  ability  been 
equal  to  her  desire  for  its  continuance,  she  would  have  endowed  it,  and 
thereby  have  provided  for  its  perpetuity.”  About  four  years  before  her 
decease,  and  with  her  full  approval,  provision  was  made  for  the  future. 
Seven  trustees  were  appointed  to  take  care  of  the  College  after  her 
ladyship’s  death;  and  a subscription  was  begun  for  its  maintenance. 
This  accumulated  fund,  in  1791,  amounted  to  3 per  cent. 

Consols.  The  lease  of  the  Trevecca  property  had  expired,  and  it  was 
now  determined  to  remove  the  college  to  Cheshunt,  near  London.  Ac- 
cordingly, the  Trevecca  house  was  given  up  at  Lady-day,  1792  ; the 
furniture,  the  library,  and  the  communion  plate  were  taken  to  Cheshunt, 
where  the  new  establishment  was  formally  opened  on  August  24,  the 
anniversary  of  the  commencement  of  the  abandoned  one  at  Trevecca. 
A religious  service,  of  nearly  three  hours  and  a-half’s  duration,  was 
held  ; Lady  Anne  Agnes  Erskine,  executrix  of  the  Countess  of  Hunting- 
don, presided ; and  seven  or  eight  hundred  persons  were  present.  (“The 
Order  observed  at  the  opening  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon’s  College 
at  Cheshunt,  London,  1792,”  8vo.,  86  pp.) 


138 


Wes  ley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1768. 


most  brilliant  colours.  What  is  it  to  die,  but  to  open  our  eyes  after 
the  disagreeable  dream  of  life  ? It  is  to  break  the  prison  of  corruptible 
flesh  and  blood,  into  which  sin  has  cast  us.  It  is  to  draw  aside  the 
curtain  which  prevents  us  seeing  the  Supreme  Beauty  and  Goodness 
face  to  face.  O my  dear  friend,  how  lovely  is  death,  when  we  look  at 
it  in  Jesus  Christ ! To  die  is  one  of  the  greatest  privileges  of  the 
Christian. 

If  Miss  Ireland  is  still  living,  tell  her,  a thousand  times,  that  Jesus 
is  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ; that  He  has  vanquished  and  disarmed 
death  ; that  He  has  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light ; and  that  all 
things  are  ours,  whether  life  or  death,  eternity  or  time.  These  are 
great  truths  upon  which  she  ought  to  repose  her  soul  with  full  assur- 
ance. Everything  is  shadow,  in  comparison  of  the  reality  of  the  Gospel. 
If  your  daughter  be  dead,  believe  in  Jesus,  and  you  shall  find  her  again 
in  Him,  who  fills  all  in  all,  who  encircles  the  material  and  spiritual 
world  in  His  arms — in  the  immense  bosom  of  His  Divinity. 

''Adieu,  my  dear  friend.  Yours, 

" J.  Fletcher.”^ 

"Madeley,  October  14,  1768. 

"My  Very  Dear  Friend, — I think  I told  you  at  Trevecca,'-^  that 
we  had  no  farmers  at  Madeley  who  feared  God  and  loved  Jesus.  This 
generation  among  us  are  buried  in  the  furrows  of  their  ploughs,  or 
under  the  heaps  of  corn  which  fill  their  granaries.  Now  that  I am  on 
the  spot,  I do  not  see  one  wFo  makes  it  necessary  for  me  to  change 
my  opinion.  Your  bailiff  cannot  come  froiti  this  Nazareth. 

" If  the  last  efforts  of  the  physicians  fail  with  respect  to  Miss  Ireland, 
it  will  be  a consolation  to  you  to  know  that  they  have  been  tried.  Every 
thing  dies.  Things  visible  are  all  transitory ; but  invisible  ones  abide 
for  ever.  If  Christ  is  our  life  and  our  resurrection,  it  is  of  little  import- 
ance whether  we  die  now,  or  thirty  years  hence. 

"Present  my  respects  to  your  son,  and  tell  him,  that  last  week  I 
buried  three  young  persons  who  had  died  of  a malignant  fever ; and 
who,  on  the  second  day  of  their  illness,  were  deprived  of  their  speech 
and  senses,  and,  on  the  fifth,  of  their  lives.  Of  what  avail  are  youth 
and  vigour  when  the  Lord  lifts  His  finger  ? And  shall  we  sin  against 
the  eternal  power,  the  infinite  love,  the  inexorable  justice,  and  the 
immense  goodness  of  this  God,  who  gives  us,  from  moment  to  moment, 
the  breath  which  is  in  our  nostrils  ? No — we  will  employ  the  precious 
gift  in  praising  and  blessing  this  good  God,  who  is  our  Father  in  Jesus 
Christ. 

" I hope  you  learn,  as  well  as  I,  and  better  than  I,  to  know  Jesus  in 
the  Spirit.  I have  known  Him  after  the  flesh,  and  after  the  letter ; 

I strive  to  know  Him  in  the  power  of  His  Spirit.  Under  the  Divine 


Letters,  1791,  p.  198. 

In  all  probability  at  the  opening  of  the  College  on  August  24. 


Age  39.]  Letters  to  Mr.  Ireland  and  his  Daughter.  139 


character  of  a quickening  Spirit,  He  is  everywhere.  All  that  live,  live 
in  Him,  and  they  who  are  spiritually  alive  have  a double  life.  The 
Lord  give  us  this  second  life  more  abundantly.  Yours, 

*‘J.  Fletcher.”^ 

The  next  is  an  extract  from  a long  letter,  addressed  to 
dying  Miss  Ireland. 

'‘Madeley,  Dece7nber  5,  1768. 

“ My  Dear  Afflicted  Friend, — I hear  you  are  returned  from  the 
last  journey  you  took  in  search  of  health.  Your  Heavenly  Father  sees 
fit  to  deny  it  you,  not  because  He  hateth  you  {^for  whom  the  Lord 
loveth  He  chasteneth),  but  because  life  and  health  might  be  fatal  snares 
to  your  soul,  out  of  which  you  could  not  escape,  but  by  tedious  illness, 
and  an  early  death. 

“ Your  father  has  crossed  the  sea  for  you  ; Jesus  has  done  more.  He 
has  crossed  the  abyss  that  lies  between  heaven  and  earth — between  the 
Creator  and  the  creature.  He  has  waded  through  the  sea  of  His  tears, 
blood,  and  agonies,  not  to  take  you  to  the  physician  at  Montpelier,  but 
to  become  your  physician  and  Saviour  Himself.  Oh,  my  friend,  delay 
not  cheerfully  to  surrender  yourself  to  Him.  Look  not  at  your  sins 
without  beholding  His  blood  and  righteousness.  Eye  not  death  but  to 
behold  your  gracious  Saviour,  saying,  ' Fear  not,  O thou  of  little  faith: 
wherefore  dost  thou  doubt  ? ’ Consider  not  eternity  but  as  the  palace 
where  you  are  going  to  enter  with  the  Bridegroom  of  souls,  and  rest 
from  all  your  sins  and  miseries.  View  not  the  condemning  law  of  God 
but  as  made  honourable  by  Him,  who  was  made  a curse  for  you.  If 
you  have  no  comfort,  distrust  not  Jesus  on  that  account;  on  the  con- 
trary, take  advantage  from  it  to  give  greater  glory  to  God,  by  believing, 
as  Abraham  did,  ‘ in  hope  against  hope.’  In  this  simple.  Gospel  way, 
wait  the  Lord’s  leisure,  and  He  will  comfort  your  heart. 

“ I hope  you  take  care  to  have  little  or  nothing  else  mentioned  to  you 
but  His  praises  and  promises.  Your  tongue  and  ears  are  going  to  be 
silent  in  the  grave.  Now,  or  never,  you  must  use  them  to  hear  and 
speak  good  of  His  name.  Comfort  your  weeping  friends.  Reprove  the 
backsliders.  Encourage  seekers.  Remember  the  praying,  believing, 
preaching,  though  dying  thief.  Be  not  afraid  to  drop  a word  for  Him 
who  opens  a fountain  of  blood  for  you.  Suffer,  live,  die  at  His  feet; 
and  you  will  soon  revive,  sing,  and  reign  in  His  bosom  for  evermore. 
Farewell,  in  the  Conqueror  of  Death  and  Prince  of  Life. 

J.  Fletcher.”  ^ 

Within  three  months  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Miss 
Ireland  had  left  a world  of  sin  and  suffering,  and  had  entered 


Letters,  1791,  p.  199. 
Ibid,  1791,  p.  204. 


140 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1769. 


into  that  rest  which  remains  for  the  people  of  God.^  Hence 
the  following,  addressed  to  her  father  : — 

'"Madeley,  March  26,  1769. 

My  Dear  Friend, — The  Lord  is  desirous  of  making  you  a true 
disciple  of  His  dear  Son,  the  '‘Man  of  Sorrows by  sending  you 
affliction  upon  affliction.  A sister  and  a wife  who  appear  to  hasten  to 
the  grave  in  which  you  have  so  lately  laid  your  only  daughter,  places 
you  in  circumstances  of  uncommon  sorrow.  But  in  this  see  the  finger 
of  Him  who  works  all  in  all,  and  who  commands  us  to  forsake  all  to 
follow  Him.  Believe  in  Him.  Believe  that  He  does  all  for  the  best ; 
and  that  all  shall  work  for  good  to  those  who  love  Him.  His  goodness 
to  your  daughter  ought  to  encourage  your  faith  and  confidence  for  Mrs. 
Ireland.  Offer  her  upon  the  altar,  and  you  shall  see  that,  if  it  be  best 
for  her  and  you,  His  grace  will  suspend  the  blow  which  threatens  you. 

“ Your  rich  present  of  meal  came  last  week,  and  shall  be  distributed 
to  the  pious  poor  agreeably  to  your  orders.  We  are  happy  to  receive 
your  bounty,  but  you  are  more  happy  in  bestowing  it  upon  us.  Witness 
the  words  of  Jesus,  ^ It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.’  Never- 
theless, receive,  by  faith,  the  presents  of  the  Lord,  the  gifts  of  His  Spirit, 
and  reject  not  the  bread  which  cometh  down  from  heaven,  because  the 
Lord  gives  it  you  with  so  much  love. 

'H  shall  be  obliged  to  go  to  Switzerland  this  year  or  the  next,  if  I 
live  and  the  Lord  permits.  I have  there  a brother,  a worthy  man,  who 
threatens  to  leave  his  wife  and  children  to  come  and  pay  me  a visit  if  I 
do  not  go  and  see  him  myself.  It  is  some  time  since  our  gracious  God 
convinced  him  of  sin,  and  I have  some  of  his  letters  which  give  me  great 
pleasure.  This  circumstance  has  more  weight  with  me  than  the  settle- 
ment of  my  affairs.”  ^ 

Mr.  Ireland  was  a frequent  benefactor  to  Fletcher  and  the 
poor  of  Madeley.  Hence,  in  another  letter  to  the  same 
friend  in  need,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

“ I think  I wrote  my  last  letter  two  days  before  I received  your  bounty 
— a large  hogshead  of  rice  and  two  cheeses.  Accept  the  thanks  of  your 
poor  and  mine.  I distributed  your  gifts  on  Shrove  Tuesday ; and 
preached  to  a numerous  congregation  on  ‘ Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of 
God  and  His  righteousness,  and  all  other  things  shall  be  added  unto 
you.’  We  prayed  for  our  benefactor,  that  God  would  give  him  a 
hundredfold  in  this  life,  and  eternal  life,  where  life  eternal  will  be  no 
burden.”^ 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  205. 

^ Ibid^  p.  206. 

^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  39.] 


Rev.  John  yones. 


141 


Help,  like  Mr.  Ireland’s,  was  always  welcome.  Many  of 
Fletcher’s  parishioners  were  extremely  poor,  and  to  the 
utmost  of  his  ability  he  contributed  to  their  necessities.  One 
who  knew  him  writes  : — 

‘‘  The  profusion  of  his  charity  toward  the  poor  and  needy  is  scarcely 
credible.  It  constantly  exhausted  his  purse  ; it  frequently  unfurnished 
his  home  ; and  sometimes  left  him  destitute  of  the  common  necessaries 
of  life.  That  he  might  feed  the  hungry,  he  led  a life  of  abstinence  and 
self-denial ; and  that  he  might  cover  the  naked,  he  clothed  himself  in 
the  most  homely  attire.’^  ^ 

Fletcher  was  President,  or,  as  Wesley  chose  to  call  him 
more  correctly.  Visitor  of  Trevecca  College.  The  office 
brought  upon  him  considerable  anxiety  and  labour.  In 
the  summer  of  1769,  John  Jones  made  application  to  be 
appointed  head  master.  Mr.  Jones,  from  1746  to  1767,  had 
been  one  of  Wesley’s  itinerant  preachers.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  classical  masters  of  Kingswood  School,  and  wrote 
the  Latin  Grammar  which  was  used  in  that  academy.^  He 
was  highly  esteemed  by  Wesley,  and  after  he  left  Kings- 
wood was  generally  stationed  in  Wesley’s  two  most  important 
circuits,  London  and  Bristol.  In  1754,  when  there  was 
great  excitement  respecting  a possible  separation  of  the 
Methodists  from  the  Church  of  England,  Charles  Wesley 
wished  what  he  called  “ the  sound  preachers  ” to  be  ‘‘  qualified 
for  orders^  and  wrote  to  his  brother,  saying,  I know  none 
fitter  for  training  up  the  young  men  in  learning  than  your- 
self or  J.  Jones.”  Nine  years  after  this,  when  Erasmus,  a 
bishop  of  the  Greek  Church,  visited  London,  he,  at  Wesley’s 
request,  ordained  Jones  to  assist  the  Arch-Methodist  in 
administering  the  sacraments  to  his  Societies.  Charles 
Wesley  would  not  admit  the  validity  of  this  ordination,  and 
consequently  would  not  allow  Mr.  Jones  to  officiate  as  a 
clergyman.  This  was  a severe  trial  to  the  newly-ordained 
preacher,  and  led  him  to  leave  the  Methodists.  He  after- 
wards procured  ordination  from  the  Bishop  of  London,  and 
was  presented  to  the  living  of  Harwich,  where  he  continued 


Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

Myles’s  ‘‘Chronological  History  of  the  Methodists.” 


142 


Wesky s Designated  Successor, 


[1769. 


to  preach  for  many  years,  and  where  he  ended  his  days  in 
peace.^  He  never  lost  his  love  for  Wesley.  In  1775,  when 
Wesley  was  dangerously  ill  in  Ireland,  he  wrote  to  him  from 
Harwich  : — 

I cannot  express  what  I felt  when  I was  informed  you  were  both 
senseless  and  speechless  ; and  it  was  like  life  from  the  dead  when  I 
heard  you  were  out  of  danger  and  able  to  sit  up.  Time  was  when  you 
would  have  taken  my  advice,  at  least  in  some  things.  Let  me  entreat, 
let  me  beseech  you,  to  preach  less  frequently,  and  that  only  at  the 
principal  places,’'  etc.^ 

Such  was  John  Jones,  Wesley’s  friend,  and  at  one  time 
held  in  high  esteem  by  Wesley’s  brother  Charles.  His 
ambition  to  be  employed  in  Lady  Huntingdon’s  college  at 
Trevecca  was  not  inordinate.  Fifteen  years  before,  Charles 
Wesley  had  thought  him  qualified  to  train  young  men  for 
the  ministry,  and  from  one  of  his  letters,  written  in  1777, 
and  published  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine  for  1837, 
it  is  evident  that  Charles  Wesley’s  opinion  was  well  founded. 
The  letter  was  addressed  to  a gentleman  of  Magdalene 
College,  Cambridge,  who  was  about  to  be  ordained,  and 
wished  Mr.  Jones’s  advice  respecting  the  composition  of 
sermons  and  preaching  them. 

Prayer,”  said  he,  should  always  precede  the  composing  of  a dis- 
course. In  general,  the  explication  of  the  text  or  context,  if  they  need 
it,-  should  not  be  too  short.  The  propositions  or  doctrines  should  not  be 
too  long  nor  too  many,  and  the  clearer  they  are  the  better.  The  illus- 
trations should  be  proper  and  lively  ; the  proofs  close  and  home ; the 
motives  strong  and  cogent ; the  inferences  and  application  natural,  and 
not  laboured.  For  if  we  cannot  persuade  the  passions,  we  shall  go  but 
a little  way  with  most  of  our  hearers.  This  was  George  Whitefield’s 
peculiar  talent ; but  I do  not  mean  to  persuade  you  to  bawl  as  loud  as 
he  did,  and  yet  I would  advise  you  to  raise  your  voice  in  the  application 
of  your  discourse.  Eight-and-thirty  years  ago  I thought  it  an  easy 
matter  to  prove  most  points  in  divinity.  I have  been  learning  the  con- 
trary ever  since,  and  I find  it  now  very  difficult,  by  Scriptures  properly 
understood  and  applied,  to  prove  many  things  which  I once  thought 
quite  clear.  I find  it  necessary  to  understand  the  Scripture  I bring  in 
as  a proof  before  I use  it  as  such.  I will  add  one  thing  more.  You 


Atmore’s  “ Methodist  Memorial.” 
Arminian  Magazme,  1787,  p.  444. 


■Age  39.]  Fletcher' s Letter  to  Rev.  yohn  yones. 


143 


will  find  it  very  difficult  to  use  such  plain  language  as  will  be  under- 
stood in  most  congregations.  Avoid  long  periods  as  much  as  possible. 
Imitate  Caesar  rather  than  Cicero  ; leave  the  latter  to  Dr.  Middleton 
and  Samuel  Furley.  It  is  far  better  to  be  understood  by  our  hearers 
than  to  be  admired  by  getting  out  of  their  depth.  To  do  all  the  good 
we  can  is  our  one  business  in  life.’^ 

Mr.  Jones  was  a man  of  sense,  and  piety,  and  experience  ; 
and  yet  Fletcher  hesitated  in  recommending  him  to  be 
appointed  a tutor  in  Trevecca  College.  Did  Fletcher  sym- 
pathize with  his  friend  Charles  Wesley  in  the  repugnance 
which  the  latter  felt  to  Mr.  Jones's  ordination  by  Erasmus, 
the  bishop  of  the  Greek  Church  } Perhaps  so  ; at  all  events, 
the  following  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  was 
cautious,  if  not  cold  : — 

‘‘Madeley,  July  I,  1769. 

''  My  Lady, — Mr.  Jones’s  letter  puzzled  me  a little.  I did  not  know 
what  answer  to  make  to  it.  I have,  however,  sat  down,  and,  after  an 
introduction,  I say  to  him — 

“ ‘ The  first  and  grand  point  to  be  kept  in  view  at  Lady  Huntingdon’s 
College  is  to  maintain  and  grow  in  the  spirit  of  faith  and  power  that 
breathes  through  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  was  exemplified  in  the 
lives  of  the  primitive  Christians.  The  first  and  grand  qualification 
required  in  a person  called  to  be  at  the  head  of  such  a college  is,  then, 
a degree  of  faith  and  power  from  above,  with  an  entire  devotedness  to 
God  and  His  cause. 

‘The  master,  who  is  there  at  present,  seems,  on  account  of  his  youth, 
to  be  deficient  in  point  of  experience.  Nor  is  he  a proper  master  of  the 
Greek,  nor  even  of  the  harder  classics  ; so  that  he  can  hardly  maintain 
his  superiority  over  those  who  read  Cicero  and  Horace.  Whether  this 
inconveniency.  Sir,  would  be  avoided,  supposing  you  were  appointed  to 
succeed  him,  I cannot  judge  by  your  letter.  He  is  also  unacquainted 
with  divinity  and  the  sciences,  of  which  it  is  proper  he  should  give  the 
students  some  idea ; and  how  far  you  may  excel  him  in  these  points. 
Sir,  is  not  in  my  power  to  determine.  He  has  twenty-five  guineas  a 
year,  with  his  board,  room,  and  washing.  I dare  say  the  generous 
foundress  would  not  hesitate  to  raise  the  salary  of  a master  of  superior 
merit,  though  she  hopes  none  would  undertake  that  office  for  the  sake 
of  money.’ 

“ After  giving  Mr.  Jones  a little  account  of  the  business  of  the  College, 
I add— 

“ ‘ The  variety  of  classes  in  it  demands  great  assiduity  and  diligence 
in  the  master.  I would  not,  therefore,  advise  anyone  to  engage  without 
a proper  trial.  I have  begged  of  Lady  Huntingdon  not  to  fix  upon  a 
master  till  she  had  allowed  him  to  look  about  him,  and  see  how  he  liked 
the  place,  people,  and  business  ; and,  as  you  very  properly  observe, 


144 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1769. 


Sir,  it  would  be  improper  /o  engage,  and  then  to  re;pe7it  of  the  under- 
taking. I think  that,  if,  upon  consulting  with  the  Lord  in  prayer,  and 
with  Mr.  Maxfield  in  conversation,  you  find  your  heart  free  to  embrace 
so  peculiar  an  opportunity  of  being  useful  to  your  generation,  it  might 
be  best  to  come  and  see  how  you  like  the  business,  and  how  it  agrees 
with  you  ; and  should  not  matters  prove  agreeable  on  either  side,  I dare 
say  Lady  Huntingdon  will  pay  your  travelling  expenses  to  Talgarth,^ 
and  back  again.’ 

‘Mn  a letter  to  Mr.  Maxfield,^  I desired  him  to  inform  your  ladyship 
how  Mr.  Jones’s  mind  stands  after  reflecting  on  the  contents  of  my 
letter  to  him,  and  whether  he  would  go  to  make  a trial.  I add,  that  so 
much  depends  upon  the  aptness  to  teach,  Christian  experience,  solidity, 
liveliness,  and  devotedness  of  a master,  that  no  one  can  presume  to 
judge  of  these  things  by  a letter,  or  even  by  a day’s  conversation. 

‘‘  If  your  ladyship  does  not  approve  of  this  step,  a line  to  Mr.  Maxfield 
will  rectify  what  you  think  amiss,  and  will  oblige,  my  lady,  your  unworthy 
servant, 

'' J.  Fletcher. 

P.S. — If  your  ladyship  is  so  good  as  to  spare  a minister  for  three 
weeks,  I shall  be  glad  to  wait  upon  the  dear  young  men  and  their 
patroness  at  the  College.”  ^ 

This  is  an  important  letter,  not  only  as  exhibiting  the 
views  of  Fletcher,  but  as  containing  a curious  chapter  in  the 
earliest  history  of  Trevecca  College.  The  College,  as  it  was 
ostentatiously  called,  had  been  opened  ten  months.  It  had 
one  master  ; and  the  author  of  the  Life  and  Times  of  the 
Countess  of  Huntingdon”  says  Joseph  Easterbrook  was  the 
person  who  occupied  this  position  ; but  adduces  no  proof  in 
support  of  his  assertion.  Another,  and  a far  greater  autho- 
rity, attests  that  the  master  of  the  College  was  a child. 
Who  was  he  } 

In  1788,  there  was  printed  “A  Sermon,  occasioned  by  the 
Death  of  the  celebrated  Mr.  J.  Henderson,  B.A.,  of  Pembroke 
College,  Oxford : Preached  at  St.  George's,  Kingswood, 

November  23  ; and  at  Temple  Church,  Bristol,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1788.  By  the  Rev.  William  Agutter,  M.A.,  of 


^ Trevecca  College  was  in  the  parish  of  Talgarth,  South  Wales.  It 
was  supposed  to  be  part  of  an  old  castle  erected  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
the  Second.  The  date  over  the  entrance  was  1176. 

2 Thomas  Maxfield,  who  had  seceded  from  Wesley’s  Connexion  in 
1763,  and  had  received  episcopal  ordination  from  the  Bishop  of  Derry. 

^ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  98. 


Age  39.] 


Mr.  John  Henderson^  B.A. 


145 


St.  Mary  Magdalen  College,  Oxford.  Published  at  ' the 
request  of  the  Congregations.  Bristol.  1788.’'  8vo,  pp.  32. 
The  text  of  the  sermon  is,  ''  Moses  was  learned  in  all  the 
wisdom  of  the  Egyptians.”  Mr.  Agutter’s  eulogy  of  Hen- 
derson cannot  here  be  quoted  at  full  length  : the  following 
are  brief  extracts  from  it : — 


''  Mr.  Henderson  was  born,  as  it  were,  a thinking  being;  and  was 
never  known  to  cry,  or  to  express  any  infantine  peevishness.  The  ques- 
tions he  asked,  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  speak,  astonished  all  who 
heard  him.” 

His  memory  was  so  strong  that  he  retained  all  he  read ; and  his 
judgment  so  solid  that  he  arranged,  examined,  and  digested  all  that  he 
remembered,  and  thus  made  it  his  own.”  * 

‘^At  a time  that  other  children  were  employed  in  the  drudgery  of 
learning  words,  he  was  occupied  in  obtaining  the  knowledge  of  things. 
While  but  a boy,  he  was  engaged  to  teach  the  learned  languages. 
At  twelve  years  of  age,  he  taught  Greek  and  Latin  in  the  College  of 
Trevecca.  The  Governor  of  the  College  at  that  time  was  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Fletcher,  late  Vicar  of  Made  ley.'' ^ 

Mr.  Agutter  proceeds  to  say,  that,  when  Fletcher  was 
dismissed  from  Trevecca,  Henderson  was  dismissed  with 
him. 

This,  then,  was  the  master — the  only  master  of  Trevecca 
College  during  the  first  year  of  its  existence  — a child,  a 
wonderful  child,  twelve  years  old  ! A further  account  of 
this  prodigy,  or,  as  the  Monthly  Review,  of  1789,  called  him, 
“ a second  Baratier,”^  may  interest  the  reader. 

His  father  was  a native  of  Ireland,  and,  from  1759  to 
1771,  was  one  of  Wesley's  best  itinerant  preachers, — a man 
of  deep  piety,  great  talent,  and  amiable  disposition  ; but 
naturally  of  a timid  and  melancholy  mind.  On  relinquishing 


* The  Arminian  Magazine,  for  1793,  confirms  this  statement. 

2 Baratierwas  a German,  born  in  1721,  and  is  said  to  have  understood 
the  German,  French,  Greek,  and  Latin  languages  when  he  was  five 
years  old.  At  the  age  of  nine,  he  could  not  only  translate  the  Hebrew 
Scriptures  into  Latin  or  French,  but  also  re-translate  these  versions  into 
Hebrew.  Before  he  had  completed  his  tenth  year,  he  composed  a 
Hebrew  Lexicon  of  rare  and  difficult  words,  with  curious  critical  remarks. 
In  his  thirteenth  year  he  translated  from  the  Hebrew  ‘'Rabbi  Benjamin’s 
Travels  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa,”  and  published  them  in  two  volumes, 
“ with  historical  and  critical  notes  and  dissertations.”  He  also,  with 
remarkable  success,  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  philosophy,  mathe- 
matics, ecclesiastical  history,  law,  etc.  He  died  in  his  twentieth  year. 


10 


146 


TVes ley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1760. 


the  itinerancy,  he  commenced  a boarding-school  at  Hannam, 
near  Bristol  ; but  two  of  his  pupils  having  been  drowned 
while  bathing,  his  mind  was  so  affected,  that  he  abandoned 
his  school,  and  opened,  at  the  same  place,  an  asylum  for  the 
insane,  which  Wesley  pronounced  the  best  of  the  kind  in  the 
three  kingdoms. 

John  Henderson,  his  only  child,  was  born  at  Bellgaran, 
near  Limerick,  in  1757,  and,  as  early  as  possible,  was  sent 
to  Wesley's  School,  at  Kingswood.  At  the  age  of  eight,  he 
had  made  such  proficiency  in  the  Latin  language,  as  to  be 
able  to  teach  it  in  the  school.  In  his  twelfth  year,  as  already 
stated,  he  became  the  Master  in  Trevecca  College.  When 
about  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  left  Trevecca,  and,  probably, 
spent  the  next  ten  years  with  his  father  at  Hannam.  At 
twenty-four,  he  entered  Pembroke  College,  Oxford  ; and,  in 
due  time,  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  His  thirst 
after  knowledge  was  unbounded  ; and  his  amiable  temper 
and  remarkable  talents  secured  him  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him.  His  learning  was  deep  and  multifarious.  He 
was  skilled  in  grammar,  rhetoric,  history,  logic,  ethics,  meta- 
physics, and  scholastic  theology.  He  studied  medicine  with 
great  attention,  and  practised  it  among  the  poor,  wherever 
he  had  a chance,  gratuitously.  He  was  well  versed  in 
geometry,  astronomy,  and  every  branch  of  natural  and  expe- 
rimental philosophy,  and  also  in  civil  and  canon  laws. 
Besides  several  of  the  modern  languages,  he  was  master  of 
the  Greek  and  Latin  tongues ; and  was  intimately  acquainted 
with  Persic  and  Arabic.  Scarcely  a book  could  be  mentioned, 
but  he  could  give  some  account  of  it;  nor  any  subject  started, 
but  he  could  engage  in  the  discussion  of  it.  His  talents  for 
conversation  were  so  attractive,  various,  and  multiform,  that 
he  was  a companion  equally  acceptable  to  the  philosopher 
and  the  man  of  the  world,  to  the  gay,  the  learned,  and 
illiterate,  the  young  and  the  old  of  both  sexes.  He  attracted 
the  notice  of  Dr.  Johnson,  was  intimate  with  Sir  William 
Jones,  Miss  Hannah  More,  and  other  celebrities  ; and  Mr. 
Wilberforce  offered  him  his  patronage  and  a living,  if  he 
would  reside  in  London. 

Like  most  geniuses,  John  Henderson  was  eccentric.  When 
he  first  went  to  Oxford,  his  clothes  were  made  in  a fashion 


Age  39.] 


Mr.  yohn  Henderson^  B.A. 


147 


peculiar  to  himself ; he  had  no  stock  or  neckcloth  ; and  he 
wore  his  hair  like  that  of  a boy  at  school.  His  mode  of  life 
was  singular.  He  generally  went  to  bed  at  daybreak,  and 
rose  in  the  afternoon,  except  when  he  was  obliged  to  attend 
the  morning  service  of  the  college  chapel.  Before  he  retired 
to  rest,  he  frequently  stripped  himself  naked  to  the  waist, 
took  his  station  at  a pump  near  his  rooms,  sluiced  his  head 
and  the  upper  part  of  his  body,  pumped  water  over  his  shirt, 
and  then,  putting  it  on,  went  to  bed.  This  he  jocularly 
called  ‘‘  an  excellent  cold  bath.’’  He  became  an  ardent 
admirer  of  the  nonsense  of  Jacob  Behmen’s  wild  philosophical 
divinity  ; studied  Lavater’s  Physiognomy  and  attained 
to  a considerable  knowledge  of  magic  and  astrology  ; and 
declared  the  possibility  of  holding  correspondence  with  the 
spirits  of  the  dead,  upon  the  strength  of  his  own  experience. 

He  died  at  Oxford,  on  November  2,  1788,  and  was  buried 
at  St.  George’s,  Kingswood.  His  father  was  so  painfully 
affected  by  the  loss  of  his  affectionate  and  only  child,  that 
he  caused  the  corpse  to  be  taken  up  again,  several  days  after 
the  interment,  to  satisfy  himself  that  his  son  was  really  dead.^ 

Wesley  had  great  love  and  respect  for  poor  Henderson’s 
father,  and,  a few  months  after  the  young  man’s  untimely 
death,  he  wrote  : — 

1789,  March  13. — I spent  some  time  with  poor  Richard  Henderson, 
deeply  affected  with  the  loss  of  his  only  son  ; who,  with  as  great  talents 
as  most  men  in  England,  had  lived  two-and-thirty  years,  and  done  just 

nothing.  ”2 

This,  however,  was  scarcely  true.  Henry  Moore,  in  his 
Life  of  Wesley,”  ^ relates  an  anecdote  which  is  worth  pre- 
serving, and  which  must  conclude  this  lengthened  notice  of 
the  child  professor  at  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon’s  College 
at  Trevecca.  In  reference  to  Wesley’s  entry  in  his  Journal, 
Mr.  Moore  remarks  : — 

‘‘Not  a vestige  of  Mr.  Henderson’s  writings  remains.  This  is 
owing  to  what  some  would  call  a cross  providence.  He  used  to  visit 
his  father  at  Hannam,  near  Bristol,  in  the  summer  vacation.  He 


^ Arminian  Magazine^  i793>  PP-  140 — 144* 
^ Wesley’s  Journal. 

® Vol.  ii.,  p.  360. 


148 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[176c. 


there  studied  intensely,  and  wrote  largely.  His  MSS.  he  stored  in  a 
large  trunk  without  a lock.  Returning  home,  some  time  before  his 
last  illness,  he  flew  to  his  treasure,  but  found  the  trunk  empty.  He 
enquired  of  Mrs.  Henderson,  who  called  up  the  servant,  and  asked 
for  the  papers  in  the  trunk.  The  girl,  who  had  been  hired  that  year, 
replied  with  great  simplicity,  ‘ La ! ma’am,  I thought  they  were  good 
for  nothing,  and  so  I lighted  the  fire  with  them  during  the  winter.’ 
Mr.  Henderson  looked  at  his  excellent  mother-in-law  for  some  time, 
but  spoke  not  a word.  He  then  went  into  his  study,  and  was  never 
known  to  mention  the  subject  more.” 

‘‘Oh!  Diamond,  Diamond!  thou  little  knowest  the 
mischief  thou  hast  done  ! said  Sir  Isaac  Nevv^ton  to  his 
favourite  little  dog,  who,  by  upsetting  a taper  on  his  desk, 
had  set  fire  to  the  papers  which  contained  the  whole  of 
his  unpublished  experiments,  and  thus  reduced  to  ashes 
the  labours  of  many  years.  Poor  Henderson,  in  his  mis- 
fortune, “spoke  not  a word.’’  Newton  lived  thirty  years 
after  his  great  loss,  but  made  no  important  addition  to 
his  scientific  discoveries  ; Henderson  died  soon  after  his 
sad  calamity  ; and  hence  Wesley’s  disparaging  remark  con- 
cerning him  : “ With  as  great  talents  as  most  men  in  England, 
he  lived  two-and-thirty  years,  and  did  just  nothing.”  Wesley 
must  have  been  ignorant  of  the  fact  related  by  Mr.  Moore  ; 
for,  on  no  other  ground  can  an  apology  be  framed  for  his 
unfair  remark. 

It  is  time  to  return  to  Fletcher.  Wesley  was  not  present 
at  the  opening  of  Trevecca  College,  in  1768,  but  he  took 
part  in  the  religious  services  held  at  the  first  anniversary 
in  1769.  Whitefield  was  unavoidably  absent,  for  he  was 
preaching  farewell  sermons,  and  administering  farewell  sacra- 
ments, to  his  London  congregations,  and,  a week  afterwards, 
set  out  on  his  final  visit  to  America.  But,  even  without 
him,  the  Methodist  gathering  at  Trevecca  was  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  recorded  in  old  Methodist  history.  Besides 
Wesley  and  Fletcher,  there  were  present  Howell  Harris,  the 
founder  of  the  Welsh  Methodists  ; the  Rev.  Daniel  Rowlands, 
rector  of  Llangeitho,  with  a salary  of  i o a year,  a preacher 
whose  eloquence  was  overwhelming,  and  whose  meetings 
among  the  Welsh  mountains  can  never  be  forgotten  ; the 
Rev.  William  Williams,  curate  of  Lanwithid,  a brave-hearted 
man  who  had  met  violent  persecution  without  flinching,  and 


Age  39.]  First  Anniversary  of  Trevecca  College, 


149 


a member  of  the  first  Conference  of  the  Calvinistic  Methodists 
in  Wales,  in  1743  ; Howell  Davies,  rector  of  Prengast,  an 
intimate  friend  of  Whitefield,  a preacher  whom  thousands  upon 
thousands  flocked  to  hear,  in  fields,  and  on  commons  and 
mountains,  and  the  attendance  at  whose  monthly  sacraments 
was  so  great  that  his  church  had  to  be  emptied  several  times 
over  to  make  room  for  the  remaining  communicants  waiting 
out  of  doors  ; the  Rev.  Peter  Williams,  another  itinerant 
clergyman  of  the  Established  Church,  who  joined  the 
Methodists  as  early  as  the  year  1741  ; and  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  Walter  Shirley,  brother  of  the  notorious  Earl  Ferrers, 
first  cousin  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  converted  under 
the  ministry  of  Venn,  and  now  an  earnest  minister  of  Christ; 
to  whom  must  be  added  Lady  Huntingdon,  the  Countess  of 
Buchan,  Lady  Anne  Erskine,  and  Miss  Orton,  and  also  the 
first  students  of  Trevecca,  headed  by  their  juvenile  master, 
John  Henderson. 

The  services  were  held  daily  for  a whole  week,  from  the 
19th  to  the  25  th  of  August  inclusive.  Fletcher,  Rowlands, 
and  William  Williams  arrived  at  the  College  on  Friday, 
the  1 8th,  and  next  morning  Rowlands  preached  in  the 
chapel  to  a crowded  congregation,  from  the  words,  “ Lord, 
are  there  few  that  be  saved  In  the  afternoon,  the  Lord’s 
Supper  was  administered,  Fletcher  addressing  the  com- 
municants and  spectators,  and  Williams  giving  out  a hymn, 
which  was  sung  with  great  enthusiasm.  At  night,  Howell 
Harris  preached  to  a large  congregation  assembled  in  the 
court  from  the  text,  “The  time  is  come  that  judgment  must 
begin  at  the  house  of  God.”  During  the  day,  Walter  Shirley 
and  several  lay  preachers  arrived  at  Trevecca. 

On  Sunday,  August  20,  at  ten  in  the  morning,  Fletcher 
read  the  Liturgy  in  the  court,  and  Shirley  preached  on, 
“Acquaint  thyself  now  with  Him,  and  be  at  peace.”  At 
one,  the  Lord’s  Supper  was  administered  in  the  chapel, 
and  Rowlands,  Fletcher,  and  Williams  gave  addresses. 
During  the  afternoon,  Fletcher  preached  in  the  court  to 
an  immense  congregation,  from,  “ I am  not  ashamed  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ.”  When  his  sermon  was  ended,  Rowlands, 
in  the  Welsh  language,  addressed  the  crowd  from,  “ It  is 
appointed  unto  men  once  to  die.” 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1769. 


150 


On  Monday  and  Tuesday  the  clergymen  preached,  and 
Howell  Harris  and  several  of  the  lay  preachers  joined  in 
the  services. 

On  Wednesday,  August  23rd,  Wesley  came,  accompanied 
by  Howell  Davies  and  Peter  Williams.^  Wesley  writes  : — 

‘‘Wednesday,  August  23rd.  I went  on  to  Trevecca.  Here  we 
found  a concourse  of  people  from  all  parts,  come  to  celebrate  the 
Countess  of  Huntingdon’s  birthday,  and  the  anniversary  of  her  school, 
which  was  opened  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  last  year.  I 
preached  in  the  evening  to  as  many  as  her  chapel  could  well  contain  ; 
which  is  extremely  neat,  or  rather,  elegant ; as  is  the  dining-room, 
the  school,  and  all  the  house.  About  nine,  Howell  Harris  desired 
me  to  give  a short  exhortation  to  his  family.  I did  so  ; and  then  went 
back  to  my  lady’s,  and  laid  me  down  in  peace. 

“Thursday,  August  24th.  I administered  the  Lord’s  Supper  to 
the  family. 2 At  ten,  the  public  service  began.  Mr.  Fletcher  preached 
an  exceeding  lively  sermon  in  the  court,  the  chapel  being  far  too 
small.  After  him,  Mr.  William  Williams  preached  in  Welsh  till 
between  one  and  two  o’clock.  At  two  we  dined.  Meantime,  a large 
number  of  people  had  baskets  of  bread  and  meat  carried  to  them  in 
the  court.  At  three,  I took  my  turn  there ; then  Mr.  Fletcher ; and 
about  five,  the  congregation  was  dismissed.  Between  seven  and  eight, 
the  lovefeast  began,  at  which,  I believe,  many  were  comforted.  In 
the  evening,  several  of  us  retired  into  the  neighbouring  wood,  which 
is  exceeding  pleasantly  laid  out  in  walks,  one  of  which  leads  to  a little 
mount  raised  in  the  midst  of  a meadow  that  commands  a delightful 
prospect.  This  is  Howell  Harris’s  work,  who  has  likewise  greatly 
enlarged  and  beautified  his  house  ; so  that,  with  the  gardens,  orchards, 
walks,  and  pieces  of  water  that  surround  it,  it  is  a kind  of  little 
paradise.”  ^ 

This  is  not  the  place  to  enlarge  upon  Howell  Harris’s 
establishment,  which  adjoined  Trevecca  College.  Suffice  it 
to  say,  that  here  he  had  gathered  together  a family  of  more 
than  a hundred  persons,  ‘‘  all  diligent,  all  constantly  employed, 
all  fearing  God  and  working  righteousness.”  ^ 


* “Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii., 
pp.  98,  99. 

■-^The  author  of  the  “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  ” 
says,  “Shirley  assisted  Wesley,”  and  adds,  “The  sacrament  was  first 
administered  to  the  clergyman,  then  to  the  students,  and  then  to  Lady 
Huntingdon,  the  Countess  of  Buchan,  Lady  Anne  Erskine,  Miss  Orton, 
and  the  other  members  of  the  family.” 

^ Wesley’s  journal. 

^ Jhid. 


Age  39.] 


Rev,  Walter  Sellon, 


151 


The  lovefeast  mentioned  by  Wesley  was  the  concluding 
service  on  the  first  anniversary  day^  strictly  speaking,  of 
Trevecca  College.  At  that  lovefeast,  Walter  Shirley,  Howell 
Davies,  and  Daniel  Rowlands  gave  short  exhortations,  and 
Peter  Williams  and  Howell  Harris  offered  prayers.  Lady 
Huntingdon  observes  : — 

Truly  our  God  was  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  many  felt  Him  eminently 
nigh.  The  gracious  influence  of  His  Spirit  seemed  to  rest  on  every 
one.  Words  fail  to  describe  the  holy  triumph  with  which  the  great 
congregation  sang — 

* Captain  of  Thine  enlisted  host, 

Display  thy  glorious  banfier  high,’  etc. 

It  was  a season  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord — a time 
never  to  be  forgotten.” 

Next  morning,  Wesley  set  off  for  Bristol  ; but  the  services 
were  continued.  In  the  afternoon,  Shirley  took  his  stand 
on  the  scaffold  in  the  court,  and  addressed  the  multitude  from 
the  words,  ‘‘  Wherefore  He  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the 
uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by  Him,  seeing  He  ever  liveth 
to  make  intercession  for  them.” 

‘^From  that  time,”  wrote  Lady  Huntingdon,  ‘‘we  had  public 
preaching  every  day  at  four  o’clock,  whilst  Mr.  Shirley  and  Mr. 
Fletcher  remained.  Copious  showers  of  Divine  blessing  have  been 
felt  on  every  side.  Truly  God  is  good  to  Israel.  Continue  Thy  good- 
ness, and  in  much  greater  abundance  ! O that  I may  be  more  and 
more  useful  to  the  souls  of  my  fellow-creatures  ! I want  to  be,  every 
moment,  all  life,  all  zeal,  all  activity  for  God,  and  ever  on  the  stretch 
for  closer  communion  with  Him.  My  soul  pants  to  live  more  to  Him  ; 
and  to  be  more  holy  in  heart  and  life,  that  all  my  nature  may  show  the 
glories  of  the  Lamb.”  ^ 

Alas  ! that  these  glorious  scenes  among  the  Welsh  moun- 
tains should  so  soon  be  followed  by  scenes  of  discord  and 
of  disputes.  The  great  storm  of  the  Calvinian  controversy 
was  already  brewing. 

Walter  Sellon  occupies  a rather  unique  position  in  Me- 
thodistic  annals.  He  died  in  1792,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  ; and  yet  of  the  first  thirty,  and  the  last  twenty-two 


' “Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  pp. 
98 — 101. 


152 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1769- 


years  of  his  life,  hardly  anything  is  known.  Dr.  Abel 
Stevens,  in  his  ‘‘  History  of  Methodism,”  says  Sellon  was 
originally  a baker ; but  I know  of  no  authority  for  this, 
except  Toplady's,  whose  hatred  and  abuse  of  Sellon  were 
such  as  to  justify  a hesitancy  in  believing  a statement  con- 
cerning his  stout  antagonist,  which  he  intended  to  be 
injurious  to  his  fame.  Sellon  was  born  in  the  year  1715  ; 
but  up  to  the  year  1745  he  had  not  been  introduced  to 
Wesley.  In  a letter  to  Wesley,  dated  December  31,  1744, 
he  states,  that,  until  recently,  he  had  condemned  him  as  “ an 
innovator,”  and  had  “ pitied  those  who  followed  ” him.  But, 
having  heard  Wesley  preach,  and  having  read  his  sermon 
on  “ Scriptural  Christianity,”  delivered  before  the  Oxford 
University  on  August  24,  1744,  his  opinions  concerning 
him  and  his  followers  were  entirely  changed  ; and  he  now 
requested  Wesley,  when  he  had  an  opportunity,  to  preach 
at  Maidenhead,  where  drunkenness,  adultery,  profaneness, 
gaming,  and  almost  every  abominable  vice,  were  not  only 
committed  with  greediness,  but  gloried  in,  and  boasted  of.”^ 
Whether  Wesley  went  to  Maidenhead,  which  seems  to  have 
been  Sellon's  place  of  residence,  is  not  known  ; but,  three 
years  and  a half  afterwards,  when  he  opened  his  famous 
Kingswood  School,  Walter  Sellon  was  appointed  the  Head- 
master ‘‘for  the  Classics.”^  About  the  year  1754,  Sellon 
received  episcopal  ordination,  and  became  curate  of  the 
churches  of  Smisby,  near  Ashby-de-la-Zouch,  and  of  Breedon, 
where  vast  multitudes  flocked  to*  hear  him,  “ not  only  from 
adjacent  towns  and  villages,  but  frequently  from  places  ten, 
fifteen,  and  twenty  miles  distant.”  “ He  was  a real  Metho- 
dist,” wrote  Jonathan  Edmondson,  “and  hundreds  were 
turned  to  God  through  his  instrumentality.”  ^ Sellon  enjoyed 
the  confidential  friendship  of  Wesley,  and  especially  of 
Wesley’s  brother  Charles  ; and,  about  the  time  of  his  ap- 
pointment to  his  curacies,  stood  faithfully  by  them  in  their 
contentions  with  the  most  able  and  prominent  of  their 
itinerant  preachers,  concerning  the  separation  of  the  Metho- 


* Armmian  Magazine^  ^77^,  P-  327. 

Myles’  '‘Chronological  History  of  the  Methodists.” 
^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazme^  1856,  p.  38. 


Age  39.] 


Fletcher  and  Sellon^ 


153 


dists  from  the  Established  Church.  All  his  publications 
were  controversial  ; and  all,  except  his  first,  were  written 
specially  in  defence  of  the  anti-Calvinian  doctrines  Wesley 
taught.  This  is  not  the  place  to  review  Walter  Sellon  as 
an  author.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  he  was  always  powerful, 
rather  than  polite  ; and  that,  after  his  first  publication,  in 
1765,  which  was  levelled  at  Socinianism,  he  prepared  a 
second  in  1768,  which  was  entitled, ‘‘ Arguments  against  the 
Doctrine  of  General  Redemption  considered.”  Without 
noticing,  at  present,  the  subsequent  writings  of  Sellon,  it  is 
enough  to  add,  that,  about  the  year  1770,  he  was  presented 
by  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  to  the  Vicarage  of  Ledsham, 
in  Yorkshire,  where  he  lived  and  laboured  until  his  death, 
on  June  13,  1792.^  In  an  unpublished  manuscript,  John 
Pawson  says  : — 

“ I do  not  believe  Mr.  Sellon  was  made  the  instrument  of  awakening 
a single  soul  after  he  came  to  Ledsham.  He  was  tutor  to  young  Mr. 
Medhurst,  of  Kippax,  who  lately  murdered  his  wife,  and  would  have 
murdered  his  mother  some  years  ago,  if  my  brother  Tarboton  had  not 
rescued  her  at  the  hazard  of  his  own  life.  While  in  that  family,  Mr. 
Sellon  seemed  to  lose  all  spirit  and  life,  and,  as  far  as  I could  learn, 
had  very  little  savour  of  godliness  about  him.  He  took  not  the  least 
notice  of  the  Methodists,  no  more  than  if  he  had  never  known  them.” 

John  Pawson  was  one  of  Wesley’s  most  honest  and  hard- 
working itinerants  ; but  he  sometimes*  was  more  severe  in 
his  strictures  than  was  desirable.  His  remark,  however, 
concerning  Sellon’s  abandonment  of  the  Methodists  was 
probably  correct  ; for  Wesley,  in  a letter  dated  June  10, 
1784,  wrote  to  him  : . You  used  to  meet  me  when  I came 
near  you  ; but  you  seem,  of  late,  to  have  forgotten  your  old 
friend  and  brother.”^ 

To  return  to  Fletcher.  He  and  Sellon  were  well  known 
to  each  other.  Four  years  ago,  they  had  exchanged  pulpits 
for  a season,  Sellon  preaching  at  Madeley,  and  Fletcher  at 
Smisby  and  Breedon-on-the-Hill.  Now  Sellon  was  entering 
the  arena  of  controversy.  The  expulsion  of  the  Methodist 
students  from  Oxford  University,  in  1768,  had  been  the 


^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine^  1856,  p.  41. 
2 Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  43. 


154 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1769- 


means,  incidentally,  of  bringing  some  of  the  chief  doctrines 
of  Calvinism  into  public  notice.  Sir  Richard  Hill,  in  de- 
fending the  students,  had  warmly  advocated  Calvinistic 
predestination.  Dr.  Nowell,  in  answering  Sir  Richard,  had 
clearly  shown  that  this  predestination  was  not  the  doctrine 
of  the  Church  of  England.  Toplady  had  rushed  to  the 
rescue  of  his  favourite  dogma,  and  had  published  his  trans- 
lation of  Zauchius,’’  and  also  his  ‘‘  Letter  to  Dr.  NowelL' 
Sellon  was  the  first  of  Wesley’s  friends  who  entered  the 
lists,  by  preparing  and  publishing  his  Arguments  against 
the  Doctrine  of  General  Redemption  considered.  London, 
1769.”  i2mo.  178  pp.  Wesley  encouraged  him,  and  so 
did  Fletcher.  The  former  wrote  as  follows  : — 

‘‘Wakefield,  July  9,  1768. 

“My  Dear  Brother, — I am  glad  you  have  undertaken  the  ‘Re- 
demption Redeemed;’  but  you  must  in  no  wise  forget  Dr.  Owen’s 
answer  to  it : otherwise  you  will  leave  a loop-hole  for  all  the  Calvinists 
to  creep  out.  The  Doctor’s  evasions  you  must  needs  cut  in  pieces, 
either  interweaving  your  answers  with  the  body  of  the  work,  under  each 
head,  or  adding  them  in  marginal  notes. 

“ Your  ever  affectionate  brother, 

“J.  Wesley.”^ 

After  the  book  was  published,  Fletcher  wrote  to  Sellon 
the  following  letter,  plainly  showing  that  the  great  Calvinian 
controversy,  though  as  yet  in  its  incipient  state,  was  causing 
considerable  commotion  : — 


“Madeley,  Octoher^,  1769. 

“ My  Dear  Brother, — I thank  you  for  your  letter  and  books.  They 
came  safe  to  hand,  and  I shall  give  you  the  amount  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. I have  inquired  what  the  Calvinists  think  ; but  they  choose  to  be 

silent, — a sign  that  they  have  not  any  great  thing  to  object.  Mr.  R 

looked  at  your  book  here  in  my  house,  and  objected  to  EXerjacd  ov  av 
cXeo),  Rom.  ix.  15.  He  says,  eXeo)  is,  ‘ I have  mercy,’  not  ‘ I should  have 
mercy.’  I observed  to  Mr.  Glascott,  ‘It  is  the  subjunctive  mood,  and 
may  take  the  sign  should,  would,  or  could,  according  to  the  analogy  of 
faith.’ 


* Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  41. 

2 Probably  Romaine,  who  was  at  Berwick,  near  Shrewsbury,  on 
September  9,  1769,  and  wrote  a letter  full  of  his  strongest  Calvinism. 
(See  Romaine’s  Works,  vol.  vi.,  p.  330.  Edition  1813,) 


Age  40.] 


Fletcher  and  Seilon. 


155 


long  to  see  Coles  ^ answered.  My  request  to  you  is,  that  you 
would  answer  him  in  the  cool  manner  you  have  the  Synod ; ^ and  my 
prayer  to  God  is,  that  you  may  be  assisted  for  that  important  work. 

“ I know  two  strong  Calvinist  believers,  who  lately  took  their  leave  of 
this  world  with,  ' I shall  be  damned.’  O,  what  did  all  their  professions 
of  perseverance  do  for  them  ? They  left  them  in  the  lurch.  May  we 
have  the  power  of  God  in  our  souls,  and  we  shall  readily  leave  unknown 
decrees  to  others. 

The  Lord  give  you  patience  with  your  brethren  ! The  best  way  to 
confound  them  is,  to  preach  that  kingdom  of  God  which  they  cast 
away,  with  real  righteousness,  and  present  peace  and  joy  in  believing; 
that  is  poison  to  the  synodical  kingdom. 

despair  of  seeing  you  before  I have  seen  Switzerland,  which  I 
design  to  visit  next  winter.  Mr.  Ireland  takes  me  as  far  as  Lyons  in 
my  way. 

There  are  some  disputes  in  Lady  Huntingdon’s  College  ; but  when 
the  power  of  God  comes,  they  drop  them.  The  Calvinists  are  three  to 
one.  Your  book  I have  sent  them  as  a hard  nut  for  them  to  crack. 

‘‘May  the  Lord  spare  you,  and  make  you  a free,  joyful  soldier  of 
the  Lord  Jesus ; as  tough  against  sin  and  unbelief  as  you  are  against 
Calvin  and  the  Synod ! The  Lord  has  overruled  your  leaving  Smisby 
for  good.  Let  us  trust  in  Him,  and  all  will  be  well.  Farewell. 

“John  Fletcher.”^ 

This  episode  respecting  Walter  Seilon  is  not  irrelevant, 
and  is  of  considerable  importance,  inasmuch  as  it  relates,  in 
part,  to  the  rise  of  the  great  Calvinian  controversy  of  the 
last  century,  in  which  Fletcher  became  one  of  the  chief 
actors.  Sellon’s  book,  in  favour  of  the  doctrine  of  “ General 
Redemption,''  was  the  first  published  by  Wesley's  adherents, 
and  is  exceedingly  able  ; but  this  is  not  the  place  to  analyse 
and  give  an  account  of  it. 

Seventeen  years  had  elapsed  since  Fletcher  left  his  father’s 
house  in  Switzerland.  He  had  now  decided  to  pay  a visit 


^ Elisha  Coles,  a clerk  to  the  East  India  Company,  who  died  in  1688. 
His  “Practical  Discourse  of  God’s  Sovereignty,”  here  referred  to,  was 
answered  by  Seilon  a year  or  two  afterwards. 

^ The  Synod  of  Dort,  held  at  Dort  in  1618  and  1619,  and  consisting 
of  thirty-eight  Dutch  and  Walloon  divines,  five  professors  of  the  Dutch 
Universities,  and  twenty-one  Lay-elders ; besides  twenty-eight  foreign 
divines,  from  England  and  other  countries.  At  this  celebrated  Synod, 
the  five  points  of  difference  between  the  Calvinists  and  Arminians  were 
decided  in  favour  of  the  former.  Seilon,  in  his  able  book,  controverts 
this  decision,  at  all  events  so  far  as  the  doctrine  of  predestination  is 
concerned. 

^ Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  205, 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[176c. 


156 


to  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  to  travel  as  far  as  the  south 
of  France  with  his  generous  friend,  Mr.  Ireland,  of  Brislington, 
Bristol.  The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Ireland  refers  to  this 
contemplated  visit,  and  to  another  matter,  which  must  be 
noticed  : — 

‘‘Madeley,  December  30,  1769. 

Dear  Friend, — Last  night,  I received  your  obliging  letter, 
and  am  ready  to  accompany  you  to  Montpelier,  provided  you  will  go 
with  me  to  Nyon.  I shall  raise  about  twenty  guineas,  and,  with  that 
sum,  a gracious  Providence,  and  your  purse,  I hope  we  shall  want  for 
nothing.  If  the  Lord  sends  me,  I should  want  nothing,  though  I had 
nothing,  and  though  my  fellow-traveller  were  no  richer  than  myself. 

I hope  to  be  at  Bristol  soon,  to  offer  you  my  services  to  pack  up. 
You  desired  to  have  a Swiss  servant,  and  I offer  myself  to  you  in  that 
capacity ; for  I shall  be  no  more  ashamed  of  serving  you,  as  far  as  I 
am  capable  of  doing,  than  I am  of  wearing  your  livery. 

‘^Two  reasons  (to  say  nothing  of  the  pleasure  of  your  company) 
engage  me  to  go  with  you  to  Montpelier, — a desire  to  visit  some  poor 
Huguenots  in  the  south  of  France,  and  the  need  I have  to  recover  a 
little  French  before  I go  to  converse  with  my  compatriots. 

''The  priest  at  Madeley  is  going  to  open  his  mass-house,  and  I 
declared  war  on  that  account  last  Sunday,  and  propose  to  strip  the 
whore  of  Babylon  and  expose  her  nakedness  to-morrow.  All  the  papists 
are  in  a great  ferment,  and  have  held  meetings  to  consult  on  the 
occasion.  One  of  their  bloody  bullies  came  ' to  pick  up  a quarrel  ’ with 
me,  as  he  said,  and  what  would  have  been  the  consequence  had  I not 
had  company  with  me  I know  not.  How  far  more  rage  may  be  kindled 
to-morrow  I don’t  know  ; but  I question  whether  it  will  be  right  for  me 
to  leave  the  field  ‘in  these  circumstances.  I forgot  to  mention  that  two 
of  our  poor  ignorant  Churchmen  are  about  to  join  the  mass-house,  which 
also  is  the  cause  of  my  having  taken  up  arms.”^ 


Fletcher  preached  his  anti-popery  sermon  as  he  intended, 
taking  as  his  text  i Tim.  iv.  1-3  : ‘‘Now  the  Spirit  speaketh 
expressly  that,  in  the  latter  times,  some  shall*  depart  from 
the  faith,  giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits  and  doctrines  of 
devils  ; speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy  ; having  their  conscience 
seared  with  a hot  iron ; forbidding  to  marry,  and  commanding 
to  abstain  from  meats,  which  God  hath  created  to  be  received 
with  thanksgiving  of  them  which  believe  and  know  the  truth.” 
An  outline  of  the  sermon  may  be  found  in  Fletcher’s  Collected 
Works,  vol.  vii.,  p.  490.  As  the  people  were  leaving  the 


Letters,  1791,  p.  208. 


Age  40.] 


Rev.  yoseph  Benson. 


157 


church,  a man,  who  acted  as  the  spokesman  of  the  papists 
present,  cried,  There  was  not  a word  of  truth  in  the  whole 
sermon  ; ” and  then,  turning  to  Fletcher,  assured  him  that 
he  would  shortly  produce  a gentleman  who  would  refute 
all  that  he  had  said.  The  threat  was  not  fulfilled  'p  and 
Benson,  in  his  Life  of  Fletcher,’’  first  published  in  1 804, 
remarks: — 

By  Mr.  Fletcher’s  bold  and  prudent  stand  the  designs  of  the  papists 
were  in  a great  measure  frustrated,  and  they  were  prevented  making 
any  progress  worth  mentioning  in  Madeley.  It  is  true  there  is  even 
now  a mass-house  and  a priest  at  Madeley,  but  I find,  upon  inquiry, 
there  are  not  a dozen  Popish  families  in  the  parish.” 

Fletcher’s  intended  visit  to  Switzerland  was,  for  a little 
while,  deferred  ; because  he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  await  the 
threatened  refutation  of  his  anti-popish  sermon.  Hence, 
early  in  January  1770,  he  went  to  Trevecca  ; probably  for 
the  purpose  of  meeting  Joseph  Benson,  who  was  about  to 
become  head  master  of  the  college. 

Joseph  Benson  was  now  nearly  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
and  for  the  last  four  years  had  been  the  classical  master  of 
Wesley’s  school  at  Kingswood,  and  was  at  present  keeping 
terms  at  Oxford.  His  acquaintance  with  Fletcher  was  slight, 
but  his  admiration  of  him  great.  He  writes  : — 

I had  only  had  two  or  three  interviews  with  Mr.  Fletcher,  which 
were,  I think,  in  the  year  1768,  when  I was  classical  master  at  Kings- 
wood school.  As  he  occasionally  made  an  excursion  from  Madeley  to 
Bristol  and  Bath,  in  one  of  these  excursions  we  invited  him  to  preach 
at  Kingswood.  He  came,  and  took  as  his  text,  ^ Him  that  cometh 
unto  Me  I will  in  no  wise  cast  out.’  The  people  were  exceedingly 
affected ; indeed  quite  melted  down.  The  tears  streamed  so  fast  from 
the  eyes  of  the  poor  colliers  that  their  blackfaces  were  washed  by  them. 
As  to  himself,  he  was  carried  out  so  far  beyond  his  strength  that,  when 
he  concluded,  he  put  off  his  shirt,  which  was  as  wet  as  if  it  had  been 
dipped  in  water.  But  this  was  nothing  strange  ; whenever  he  preached 
it  was  generally  the  case.  From  this  time,  I conceived  a particular 
esteem  for  him,  chiefiy  on  account  of  his  piety  ; and  wished  much  for  a 
further  acquaintance  with  him,  a blessing  which  I soon  after  obtained  ; 
for  through  his  means,  and  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  recommen- 
dation to  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  I was  made  head  master  of  the 


Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  vii.,  p.  494. 


158 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1770. 


academy,  or,  as  it  was  commonly  called,  the  college,  at  Trevecca,  though 
I could  ill  be  spared  from  Kingswood,  where  I had  acted  in  that  capacity 
about  four  years.  Being  greatly  wanted  at  Kingswood,  and  having 
likewise  a term  to  keep  at  Oxford,  I could  only  pay  them  a short  visit 
for  the  present,  which  was  in  January  1770  ; but  in  the  spring  following, 
I went  to  reside  there,  and  for  some  time  was  well  satisfied  with  my 
situation.’'  * 

No  record  exists  of  what  transpired  between  Fletcher  and 
Benson  at  Trevecca  ; but  the  following  letter,  written  there, 
and  addressed  to  Mr.  Ireland,  deserves  insertion  : — 

‘‘Trevecca,  January  13,  1770. 

“ My  Dear  Friend, — I know  not  what  to  think  of  our  journey.  My 
heart  frequently  recoils.  I have  lost  all  hope  of  being  able  to  preach 
in  French,  and  I think  if  I could  they  would  not  permit  me.  I become 
more  stupid  every  day ; my  memory  fails  me  in  a surprising  manner. 
I am  good  for  nothing,  but  to  go  and  bury  myself  in  my  parish.  I have 
those  touches  of  misanthropy  which  make  solitude  my  element.  Judge , 
then,  whether  I am  fit  to  go  into  the  world.  On  the  other  hand,  I fear 
that  your  journey  is  undertaken  partly  from  complaisance  to  me,  and  in 
consequence  of  the  engagement  we  made  to  go  together.  I acquit  you 
of  your  promise ; and,  if  your  business  does  not  really  demand  your 
presence  in  France,  I beg  you  will  not  think  of  going  there  on  my 
account.  The  bare  idea  of  giving  you  trouble  would  make  the  journey 
ten  times  more  disagreeable  to  me  than  the  season  of  the  year. 

“ The  day  after  1 wrote  to  you  I preached  the  sermons  against  popery, 
which  I had  promised  to  my  people  ; and  Mr.  S — t — r called  out  several 
times  in  the  churchyard,  as  the  people  went  out  of  church,  that  ‘ there 
was  not  one  word  of  truth  in  the  whole  of  my  discourse,  and  that  he 
would  prove  it.’  He  also  told  me  that  he  would  produce  a gentleman 
who  should  answer  my  sermon  and  the  pamphlet  I had  distributed.  I 
was,  therefore,  obliged  to  declare  in  the  church  that  I should  not  quit 
England,  and  was  only  going  into  Wales,  from  whence  I would  return 
soon  to  reply  to  the  answer  of  Mr.  S — t — r and  the  priest,  if  they  should 
offer  any.  I am  thus  obliged  to  return  to  Madeley  by  my  word  so 

blicly  pledged,  as  well  as  to  raise  a little  money  for  my  journey. 
Were  it  not  for  these  circumstances,  I believe  I should  pay  you  a visit 
at  Bristol,  notwithstanding  my  misanthropy. 

“The  hamper  which  you  mention,  and  for  which  I thank  you,  pro- 
vided it  be  the  last,  arrived  three  days  before  my  departure,  but  not 
knowing  what  it  was,  nor  for  whom  it  was  intended,  I put  it  into  my 
cellar  without  opening  it.  I want  the  living  water  rather  than  cider, 
and  righteousness  more  than  clothes.  I fear,  however,  lest  my  unbelief 
should  make  me  set  aside  the  fountain  whence  it  flows,  as  I did  your 


* Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  40.  ] 


First  Visit  to  Switzerland. 


159 


hamper.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  is  high  time  to  open  the  treasures  of 
Divine  mercy,  and  to  seek  in  the  heart  of  Jesus  for  the  springs  of  love, 
righteousness,  and  life.  The  Lord  give  us  grace  so  to  seek  that  we  may 
find,  and  be  enabled  to  say  with  the  woman  in  the  Gospel,  ‘ I have  found 
the  piece  of  silver  which  I had  lost.’ 

“If  your  affairs  do  not  really  call  you  to  France  I will  wait  until 
Providence  and  grace  shall  open  a way  to  me  to  the  mountains  of  Swit- 
zerland, if  I am  ever  to  see  them  again.  Adieu  ! Give  yourself  wholly 
to  God.  A divided  heart,  like  a divided  kingdom,  falls  naturally  by  its 
owm  gravity  either  into  darkness  or  into  sin.  My  heart’s  desire  is  that 
the  love  of  Jesus  may  fill  your  soul,  and  that  of  your  unworthy  and 
greatly  obliged  servant, 

“John  Fletcher.”* 

The  journey  to  Switzerland  was  deferred,  but  took  place  ; 
though  no  one  seems  to  know  the  exact  date  when  it  was 
begun  or  when  it  ended.  In  the  month  of  July,  however, 
Fletcher  was  again  in  England.  Strangely  enough,  there  is 
no  letter  of  his  that  refers  to  the  extensive  tour  made 
by  him  and  his  friend  Ireland  ; but  the  latter  sent  the 
following  account  to  Mr.  Benson  : — 

“I  was  with  Mr.  Fletcher,  day  and  night,  nearly  five  months,  travelling 
all  over  Italy  and  France.  At  that  time,  a popish  priest  resided  in  his 
parish,  who  attempted  to  mislead  the  poor  people.  Mr.  Fletcher,  there- 
fore, throughout  this  journey,  attended  the  sermons  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  clergy,  visited  their  convents  and  monasteries,  and  conversed 
with  all  the  most  serious  among  them  whom  he  met  with,  in  order  that 
he  might  know  their  sentiments  concerning  spiritual  religion.  He  was 
so  very  particular  in  making  observations  respecting  the  gross  and 
absurd  practices  of  the  priests  and  other  clergy,  especially  while  we 
were  in  Italy,  that  we  were  frequently  in  no  small  danger  of  our  lives. 
He  wished  to  attend  the  Pope’s  chapel  at  Rome,  but  I would  not  consent 
to  accompany  him  till  I had  obtained  a promise  from  him  that  he  would 
forbear  to  speak  by  way  of  censure  or  reproof  of  what  he  saw  or  heard. 
He  met  with  many  men  of  science  and  learning,  with  whom  he  conversed 
freely  on  Gospel  truths,  which  most  of  them  opposed  with  violence.  A 
few  listened  and  were  edified.  His  whole  life,  as  you  well  know,  was  a 
sermon ; all  his  conversations  were  sermons.  Even  his  disputations 
with  infidels  were  full  of  instruction.  We  met  with  a gentleman  of 
fortune,  an  excellent  classical  scholar,  with  whom  we  continued  near 
a fortnight  at  an  hotel.  He  said  he  had  travelled  all  over  Europe, 
and  had  passed  through  all  the  Societies  in  England  to  find  a person 
whose  life  corresponded  with  the  Gospels  and  with  Paul’s  Epistles.  He 


* Letters,  1791,  p.  210. 


i6o 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1770. 


asked  me  (for  it  was  with  me  he  first  began  to  converse)  if  I knew  any 
clergyman  or  dissenting  minister  in  England,  possessed  of  a stipend  of 
;^ioo  a year  for  the  cure  of  souls,  who  would  not  leave  them  all  if  he 
were  otfered  double  that  amount.  I replied  in  the  affirmative,  and 
pointed  to  my  friend  Fletcher ; when  disputations  commenced,  which 
continued  for  many  days.”  ^ 

Mr.  Gilpin,  in  Fletcher’s  “ Portrait  of  St.  Paul,”  adds  to 
this  account.  He  says  : — 

This  debate  was  continued,  by  adjournment,  for  the  space  of  a 
week.  Whatever  had  been  said  upon  the  subject  by  the  most  celebrated 
writers  was  brought  forward,  and  thoroughly  discussed.  Mr.  Fletcher 
repeatedly  overcame  his  antagonist,  who  regularly  lost  his  temper  and 
his  cause  together.  Mr.  Fletcher  took  a view  of  the  Christian’s  enviable 
life,  his  consolation  in  trouble,  and  his  tranquillity  in  danger  ; together 
with  his  superiority  to  all  the  evils  of  life  and  the  horrors  of  death  ; 
interspersing  his  remarks  with  affectionate  admonitions  and  powerful 
persuasives  to  a rational  dependence  upon  the  truths  of  the  Gospel. 
At  the  conclusion  of  this  memorable  debate,  the  unsuccessful  disputant 
conceived  so  exalted  an  idea  of  his  opponent’s  character,  that  he  never 
afterwards  mentioned  his  name  but  with  peculiar  veneration  and  regard  ; 
and  when  they  met  again,  eight  years  later,  in  Provence,  where  the 
gentleman  lived  in  affluence,  he  showed  Mr.  Fletcher  every  possible 
civility,  entertained  him  at  his  house  in  the  most  hospitable  manner, 
and  listened  to  his  conversation  on  spiritual  subjects  with  all  imaginable 
attention  and  respect.” 

Mr.  Gilpin  mentions  another  incident  of  the  same  kind. 
Fletcher,  in  his  travels,  met  a young  gentleman  from  Genoa, 
who  had  imbibed  the  infidel  notions  of  the  day.  They  had 
a debate,  which  lasted  several  days,  from  morning  till  night. 
The  sceptic  was  vanquished,  and  was  so  struck  with  the 
masterly  skill  of  Fletcher,  and  his  more  than  parental  concern, 
that,  before  they  parted,  he  looked  up  to  his  instructor  with 
reverence,  listened  to  him  with  admiration,  and  desired  to 
be  present  at  morning  and  evening  prayer.^ 

While  at  Marseilles,  Mr.  Ireland  procured  for  Fletcher  the 
use  of  a Protestant  church  in  that  neighbourhood  ; but  the 
engagement  to  preach  in  it  caused  Fletcher  great  anxiety, 
probably  because  he  had  lost  his  facility  in  speaking  the 
French  language.  He  prayed  about  it  earnestly  all  the 


^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 
^ Portrait  of  St.  Paul.” 


Age  40.  ] 


First  Visit  to  Switzerland. 


161 


week  ; and  when  Sunday  morning  came,  he  entreated  Mr. 
Ireland  to  inform  the  minister  of  the  church  that  he  was 
unable  to  fulfil  his  engagement.  Mr.  Ireland  refused  ; and 
Fletcher  was  compelled  to  ascend  the  pulpit,  where  he 
preached  with  such  effect,  that  the  whole  congregation, 
among  whom  were  many  ministers,  were  in  tears.^ 

He  determined,  while  in  the  south  of  France,  to  visit  the 
Protestants  in  the  Cevennes  mountains,  whose  fathers  had 
suffered  so  severely  in  the  cause  of  Christ ; “ the  heretics  of 
the  Cevennes,  those  accursed  remainders  of  the  old  Albi- 
genses,’'  as  the  Bull  of  Clement  XI.,  dated  1703,  designated 
them.  The  journey  was  long  and  difficult,  but  no  argument 
could  prevail  with  him  to  abandon  his  resolution  of  attempting 
it  on  foot.  ‘‘  Shall  I,”  said  he  to  his  friend  Ireland,  ‘‘  make 
a visit  on  horseback  and  at  ease,  to  those  poor  cottagers, 
whose  fathers  were  hunted  along  the  rocks,  like  partridges 
upon  the  mountains  ? No  : I will  visit  them  under  the 
plainest  appearance,  with  my  staff  in  my  hand.''  Accord- 
ingly, he  set  out  alone,  and,  after  travelling  till  it  was  nearly 
dark,  he  entered  a small  house,  and  begged  the  favour  of 
being  allowed  to  sit  in  a chair  till  morning.  The  master  of 
the  cottage,  after  some  hesitation,  consented.  Conversation 
followed  ; the  host  and  hostess  were  charmed  ; the  best 
provisions  in  their  humble  dwelling  were  given  to  the 
traveller  ; and,  before  they  retired  to  rest,  prayer  was  pro- 
posed and  offered.  Early  on  the  morrow,  the  strange  visitant 
renewed  his  conversation  and  his  prayers  ; father,  mother, 
and  children  were  melted  into  tears  ; and  the  poor  man 
himself  told  his  neighbours  that  he  had  nearly  refused  to 
admit  a stranger  into  his  house,  who  was  more  an  angel 
than  a man.  The  family  were  papists. 

Continuing  his  journey,  Fletcher  reached  a small  town, 
where  he  was  entertained  by  a pious  minister,  to  whom  he 
had  been  recommended.  The  Protestants  received  him  with 
open  arms.  He  conversed  with  their  elders  ; admonished 
their  youth  ; visited  their  sick  ; and  preached  with  freedom 
and  success.  Many  among  them  were  comforted,  and  many 
built  up  in  their  most  holy  faith. 


* Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


i62 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1770. 


As  he  travelled  over  the  mountains,  he,  one  day,  put  up 
in  a small  dwelling,  whose  master  could  hardly  speak  without 
uttering  an  oath.  Of  course,  Fletcher,  in  his  own  peculiar 
way,  reproved  the  swearer  ; and,  with  such  effect,  that  the 
man  confessed  his  sin  ; and  ever  afterwards,  when  in  danger 
of  falling  into  his  old  habit,  nothing  more  was  necessary  to 
restrain  him  than  to  remember  the  saintly  stranger  who  had 
once  obtained  a lodging  beneath  his  humble  roof.^ 

Fletcher  and  Mr.  Ireland  proceeded  from  France  to  Italy, 
and  traversed  the  celebrated  Appian  Way.  As  they  ap- 
proached it,  Fletcher  directed  the  driver  to  stop  ; for,  said 
he  to  Mr.  Ireland,  I cannot  ride  over  ground  where  the 
Apostle  Paul  once  walked,  chained  to  a soldier.’^  As  soon 
as  he  set  his  foot  upon  the  old  Roman  road,  he  took  off  his 
hat ; and,  walking  on  with  his  eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven,  he 
gave  God  thanks  for  the  glorious  truths  which  Paul  preached. 
He  rejoiced  that,  in  England,  these  truths  were  still  published ; 
and  prayed  that  they  might  be  revived  in  Italy.  He  reviewed 
the  life,  the  travels,  the  labours,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  great 
Apostle,  his  remarks  being  intermixed  with  prayer  and  praise, 
and  the  man  himself  resembling  an  incarnation  of  devotion.^ 
On  arriving  in  Switzerland,  he  was  at  once  solicited  by 
the  clergy  at  Nyon  to  occupy  their  pulpits.  He  complied 
with  their  requests  ; and,  wherever  he  was  announced  to 
preach,  multitudes  from  all  quarters  flocked  to  hear  him. 
Even  deists  listened  to  him  with  admiration,  and  the  crowds 
seemed  to  think  him  more  than  human.  Despisers  of  reve- 
lation were  overawed  and  confounded ; formalists  were  roused ; 
and  careless  sinners  startled.  One  of  his  converts  betook 
himself  to  sacred  studies,  and  became  a Protestant  minister 
at  Lyons.  When  the  time  for  Fletcher’s  departure  came,  a 
good  old  minister,  of  more  than  threescore  years  and  ten, 
besought  him,  with  indescribable  earnestness,  to  stay  a little 
longer,  even  were  it  only  for  a single  week  ; and,  when  he 
found  that  this  was  impracticable,  the  old  gentleman  burst 
into  tears,  and,  addressing  Mr.  Ireland,  cried,  Oh,  Sir,  how 
unfortunate  for  my  country  ! During  my  lifetime,  it  has 


Gilpin's  Notes  to  Portrait  of  St.  Paul." 
Benson's  “ Life  of  Fletcher." 


Age  40.] 


First  Visit  to  Switzerland. 


163 


produced  but  one  angel  of  a man,  and  now  it  is  our  lot  to 
lose  him  At  length  the  carriage,  that  was  to  bear  away 
the  travellers,  appeared  ; multitudes  crowded  round  about  it, 
anxious  to  receive  a last  word  or  look ; and  not  a few  followed 
it  for  above  two  miles,  before  they  could  summon  sufficient 
resolution  to  bid  farewell  to  their  saintly  compatriot  whom 
they  had  learned  to  love  so  mucL^ 

Fletcher  reached  England  about  the  time  of  midsummer 
1770.  His  tour  had  done  him  good,  and  had  prepared  him 
for  the  more  than  ordinary  trials  that  awaited  him. 


Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher,” 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1770. 


164 


CHAPTER  VIIl; 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  CALVIN  IAN 
CONTROVERSY. 

1770  AND  1771. 

During  his  absence  from  England,  Fletcher  wrote 
several  letters  to  the  masters  and  students  of  the 
Countess  of  Huntingdon’s  College  at  Trevecca  but  none 
of  these  have  been  published,  and,  probably,  none  of  them 
now  exist.  Immediately  after  his  return,  and  before  he  had 
an  opportunity  of  visiting  the  College,  he  indited  the  follow- 
ing remarkable  epistle  : — 

Madeley,  July  23,  1770.  ' 

To  the  masters  and  students  of  Lady  Huntingdon’s  College. 

‘‘Grace,  mercy,  and  peace  attend  you,  my  dear  brethren,  from  God 
our  Father,  and  from  our  Lord  and  Brother  Jesus  Christ ! 

Brother,  do  I say  ? Should  I not  rather  have  written  All  ? Is  not 
He  all  and  in  all  ? All  to  believers,  for  He  is  their  God,  as  the  Xoyoy 
{the  TVord),  and  their  Friend,  Brother,  Father,  Spouse,  etc.,  etc.,  etc., 
as  He  is  \oyos  ycvofxepos  crap^  {the  Word  made  flesh).  From  Him, 
through  Him,  and  in  Him,  I salute  you  in  the  Spirit.  I believe  He  is 
here  with  me,  and  in  me.  I believe  He  is  yonder  with  you,  and  in  you; 
for  ‘ in  Him  we  live,  move,  and  have,’  not  only  our  animal,  but  rational 
and  spiritual,  ‘being.’  May  the  powerful  grain  of  faith  remove  the 
mountain  of  remaining  unbelief,  that  you  and  I may  see  things  as  God 
sees  them  ! When  this  is  the  case,  we  shall  discover  that  the  Creator 
is  All  indeed,  and  that  creatures,  which  we  are  wont  to  put  in  His  place, 
are  mere  nothings,  passing  clouds  that  our  Sun  of  Righteousness  has 
thought  fit  to  clothe  Himself  with,  and  paint  some  of  His  glories  upon. 
In  an  instant.  He  could  scatter  them  into  their  original  nothing,  or 
resorb  them  for  ever,  and  stand  without  competitor,  ntm,  the  Being. 

“ But  suppose  that  all  creatures  should  stand  for  ever,  little  signatures 


^ Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  40.]  Letter  to  Masters  and  Students,  Trevecca  College,  1 65 


of  God,  what  are  they  even  in  their  most  glorious  estate,  but  as  tapers 
kindled  by  His  light,  as  well  as  formed  by  His  power  ? Now  conceive 
a Sun,  a spiritual  Sun,  whose  centre  is  everywhere,  whose  circumference 
can  be  found  nowhere ; a Sun  whose  lustre  as  much  surpasses  the 
brightness  of  the  luminary  that  rules  the  day,  as  the  Creator  surpasses 
the  creature  ; and  say.  What  are  the  twinkling  tapers  of  good  men  on 
earth, — what  is  the  smoking  flax  of  wicked  creatures, — what  the  glitter- 
ing stars  of  saints  in  heaven  ? Why,  they  are  all  lost  in  His  transcendent 
glory,  and  if  any  one  of  these  would  set  himself  up  as  an  object  of 
esteem,  regard,  or  admiration,  he  must  indeed  be  mad  with  self 
pride.  He  must  be,  as  dear  Mr.  Howell  Harris  has  often  told  us,  a 
foolish  apostate,  a devil. 

Understand  this,  believe  this,  and  you  will  sink  to  unknown  depths 
of  self-horror,  for  having  aspired  at  being  somebody,  self-humiliation  at 
seeing  yourself  nobody,  or  what  is  worse  an  evil-body. 

But  I would  not  have  you  dwell  even  upon  this  evil,  so  as  to  lose 
sight  of  your  Sun,  unless  it  be  to  see  Him  covered,  on  this  account,  with 
our  flesh  and  blood,  and  wrapt  in  the  cloud  of  our  nature.  Then  you 
will  cry  out  with  St.  Paul,  ‘ O the  depth  ! ’ Then,  finding  the  manhood 
is  again  resorbed  into  the  Godhead,  you  will  gladly  renounce  all  selfish, 
separate  existence  in  Adam  and  from  Adam.  You  will  take  Christ  to 
be  your  life ; you  will  become  His  members  by  eating  His  flesh  and 
drinking  His  blood ; you  will  consider  His  flesh  as  your  flesh.  His  bone 
as  your  bone.  His  Spirit  as  your  spirit.  His  righteousness  as  your  righ- 
teousness, His  cross  as  your  cross,  and  His  crown  (whether  of  thorns  or 
glory)  as  your  crown.  You  will  reckon  yourselves  to  be  dead  indeed 
unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God,  through  this  dear  Redeemer.  You  will 
renounce  propriety;  you  will  heartily  and  gladly  say,  ^Not  I,  not  I,  but 
Christ  liveth  ; and  only  because  He  lives,  I do,  and  shall  live  also.’ 

When  it  is  so  with  us,  then  we  are  creatures  in  our  Creator,  and 
redeemed  creatures  in  our  Redeemer.  Then  we  understand  and  feel 
what  He  says,  * Without  Me  the  Creator,  ye  are  nothing  ; without  Me 
the  Saviour,  ye  can  do  nothing.’  ^ The  moment  I consider  Christ  and 
myself  as  two,  I am  gone,’  says  Luther;  and  I say  so  too.  I am  gone 
into  self,  and  into  Antichrist ; for  that  which  will  be  something,  will 
not  let  Christ  be  all ; and  that  which  will  not  let  Christ  be  all,  must 
certainly  be  Antichrist.  What  a poor,  jejune,  dry  thing  is  doctrinal 
Christianity,  compared  with  the  clear  and  heartfelt  assent  that  the 
believer  gives  to  these  fundamental  truths  ! What  life,  what  strength, 
what  comfort  flow  out  from  them  ! O my  friends,  let  us  believe,  and  we 
shall  see,  taste,  and  handle  the  Word  of  Life.  When  I stand  in  unbelief, 
I am  like  a drop  of  muddy  water  drying  up  in  the  sun  of  temptation.  I 
can  neither  comfort,  nor  help,  nor  preserve  myself.  When  I do  believe 
and  close  in  with  Christ,  I am  like  that  same  drop  losing  itself  in  a 
boundless,  bottomless  sea  of  purity,  light,  life,  power,  and  love.  There 
my  good  and  my  evil  are  equally  nothing ; equally  swallowed  up  ; and 
grace  reigns  through  righteousness  unto  eternal  life . 

There  I wish  you  all  to  be.  There  I beg  you  and  I may  meet  with 


i66 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


1770. 


all  God’s  children.  I long  to  see  you  that  I may  impart  unto  you  (should 
God  make  use  of  such  a worm)  some  spiritual  gift,  and  that  I may  be 
comforted  by  the  mutual  faith  of  you  and  me,  and  by  your  growth  in 
grace,  and  in  divine  as  well  as  human  wisdom,  during  my  long  absence. 
I hope  matters  will  be  so  contrived  that  I may  be  with  you,  to  behold 
your  order,  before  the  anniversary.  Meanwhile,  I remain  your  affec- 
tionate fellow-labourer  and  servant  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 

' ‘ J OHN  Fletcher  . ” ^ 

No  wonder  that  the  visits  of  a man  breathing  such  a spirit 
were  welcomed.  Mr.  Benson,  the  head  master  of  the  College, 
writes  : — 

He  was  received  as  an  angel  of  God.  It  is  not  possible  for  me  to 
describe  the  veneration  in  which  we  all  held  him.  Like  Elijah,  in  the 
schools  of  the  prophets,  he  was  revered  ; he  was  loved  ; he  was  almost 
adored ; not  only  by  every  student,  but  by  every  member  of  the  family. 

“ And  indeed  he  was  worthy.  The  reader  will  pardon  me,  if  he  thinks 
I exceed.  My  heart  kindles  while  I write.  Here  it  was  that  I saw, 
shall  I say,  an  angel  in  human  flesh  ? I should  not  far  exceed  the  truth 
if  I said  so.  But  here  I saw  a descendant  of  fallen  Adam,  so  fully 
raised  above  the  ruins  of  the  fall,  that,  though  by  the  body  he  was  tied 
down  to  earth,  his  whole  conversation  was  in  heaven.  His  life^  from 
day  to  day,  was  hid  with  Christ  in  God,  Prayer,  praise,  love,  and 
zeal,  all  ardent,  elevated  above  what  one  would  think  attainable  in  this 
state  of  frailty,  were  the  element  in  which  he  continually  lived.  As  to 
others,  his  one  employment  was,  to  call,  entreat,  and  urge  them,  to 
ascend  with  him  to  the  glorious  source  of  being  and  blessedness.  He 
had  leisure,  comparatively,  for  nothing  else.  Languages,  arts,  sciences, 
grammar,  rhetoric,  logic,  even  divinity  itself,  were  all  laid  aside,  when 
he  appeared  in  the  schoolroom  among  the  students.  His  full  heart 
would  not  suffer  him  to  be  silent.  He  must  speak,  and  they  were 
readier  to  hearken  to  this  servant  and  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  than  to 
attend  to  -Sallust,  Virgil,  Cicero,  or  any  Latin  or  Greek  historian,  poet, 
or  philosopher  they  had  been  engaged  in  reading.  And  they  seldom 
hearkened  long,  before  they  were  all  in  tears,  and  every  heart  catched 
fire  from  the  flame  that  burned  in  his  soul. 

These  seasons  generally  terminated  in  this.  Being  convinced  that 
to  be  'filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost’  was  a better  qualification  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel  than  any  classical  learning  (though  that  too  may 
be  useful  in  its  place),  after  speaking  awhile  in  the  schoolroom,  he  used 
frequently  to  say,  ' As  many  of  you  as  are  athirst  for  the  fulness  of  the 
Spirit,  follow  me  into  my  room.’  On  this,  many  of  us  instantly  followed 
him,  and  there  continued  till  noon,yi?r  two  or  three  hours ^ praying  for 


^ Benson’s  "Life  of  Fletcher,” 


Age  40.] 


FleUher  at  Trevecca  College, 


167 


one  another,  till  we  could  bear  to  kneel  no  longer.  This  was  done,  not 
once  or  twice,  but  many  times ; and  I have  sometimes  seen  him,  on 
these  occasions — once  in  particular — so  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  that 
he  cried  out,  ' O my  God,  withhold  Thy  hand,  or  the  vessel  will  burst ! ’ 
But  he  afterwards  told  me,  he  was  afraid  he  had  grieved  the  Spirit  of 
God,  and  that  he  ought  to  have  prayed  that  the  Lord  would  have 
enlarged  the  vessel,  or  have  suffered  it  to  break,  that  the  soul  might 
have  had  no  further  bar  to  its  enjoyment  of  the  Supreme  Good. 

“Such  was  the  ordinary  employment  of  this  man  of  God,  while  he 
remained  at  Trevecca.  He  preached  the  word  of  life  to  the  students 
and  family,  and  to  as  many  of  the  neighbours  as  desired  to  be  present. 
He  was  always  employed,  either  in  illustrating  some  important  truth, 
or  exhorting  to  some  neglected  duty,  or  administering  some  needful 
comfort,  or  relating  some  useful  anecdote,  or  making  some  profitable 
remark.  His  devout  soul,  always  burning  with  love  and  zeal,  led  him 
to  intermingle  prayer  with  all  he  uttered.  His  manner  was  so  solemn 
and,  at  the  same  time,  so  mild  and  insinuating,  that  it  was  hardly 
possible  for  any  one  to  be  in  his  company  without  being  struck  with 
awe  and  charmed  with  love,  as  if  in  the  presence  of  an  angel  or  departed 
spirit.  Indeed,  I frequently  thought,  while  attending  to  his  heavenly 
discourse,  that  he  was  so  different  from  the  generality  of  mankind  as 
to  look  more  like  Moses  or  Elijah,  or  some  prophet  or  apostle  come 
again  from  the  dead,  than  a mortal  man  dwelling  in  a house  of  clay.”  ^ 

This,  to  some,  may  appear  excessive  eulogy  ; and,  there- 
fore, the  reader  is  reminded  that  Joseph  Benson,  who  wrote 
it,  was  not  a weak-minded  fanatic,  but  a man  of  robust 
understanding,  a classical  scholar  of  no  mean  attainments, 
an  able  commentator  on  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  one 
of  the  most  powerful  and  successful  preachers  of  his  times, 
and  twice  President  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Conference. 
Such  a man  was  not  likely  to  write  random  words.  He 
knew  Fletcher,  and,  to  the  best  of  his  power,  described  him 
accurately.  And,  further,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
Benson’s  testimony  was  endorsed  by  Wesley,  who  inserted 
it  verbatim  in  his  ‘‘  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

Such  was  Pletcher ; and  yet  this  half-angelic  man  had 
soon  to  leave  Trevecca ! The  reasons  for  this  must  now 
be  given.  The  subject  will  be  far  from  pleasant ; but,  in  a 
Life  of  Pletcher,  it  cannot  be  evaded.  For  some  time  past, 
the  storm  of  the  Calvinian  controversy  had  been  brewing  ; 
now  the  crisis  came,  and  the  storm  burst  with  terrific 
violence. 


Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


i68 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1770. 


Before  proceeding,  however,  with  the  history  of  the  con- 
troversy, there  is  a letter  belonging  to  this  period  too 
interesting  to  be  omitted.  David  Simpson,  who  had  be- 
longed to  Rowland  Hill’s  Methodist  Society,  at  Cambridge, 
had  recently  received  episcopal  ordination,  and  begun  his 
famous  ministry.  Like  Wesley,  Whitefield,  Berridge,  Row- 
land Hill,  and  others,  he  was  inclined  to  become,  to  some 
extent,  an  itinerant  preacher,  and,  therefore,  irregular.  He 
was  only  twenty-four  years  of  age,  without  experience,  and 
in  need  of  counsel.  Accordingly,  he  wrote  to  Fletcher,  who 
returned  the  following  answer  : — 

Madeley,  August  4,  1770. 

‘‘  Reverend  and  Dear  Sir, — I have  sometimes  preached  in 
licensed  places,  but  have  never  been  censured  for  it.  Perhaps  it  is 
because  my  superiors  in  the  Church  think  me  not  worth  their  notice, 
and  despair  of  shackling  me  with  their  unevangelical  regularity.  If  the 
Bishop  were  to  take  me  to  task  about  this  piece  of  irregularity,  I would 
observe, — 

I.  That  the  canons  of  men  cannot  overthrow  the  canons  of  God. 

* Preach  the  word.  Be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season.’  ‘ The 
time  cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the  true  worshippers  shall  worship,* 
particularly  and  exclusively  of  all  other  places,  neither  upon  mount 
Gerizim,  nor  upon  mount  Zion ; but  they  shall  worship  everywhere  in 
spirit  and  in  truth.  The  contrary  canons  are  Jewish,  and  subversive 
of  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us  free ; yea,  contrary  to 
the  right  of  Churchmen,  which  must,  at  least,  include  the  privilege 
of  dissenters. 

“2.  Before  the  Bishop  shackled  me  with  canons,  he  charged  me  to 
‘look  for  Christ’s  lost  sheep  that  are  dispersed  abroad,  and  for  His 
children  who  are  in  the  midst  of  this  wicked  world ; ’ and  these  sheep, 
etc.,  I will  try  to  gather  whenever  I meet  them.  We  have  a general 
canon  : — ‘ While  we  have  time,  let  us  do  good  to  all  men,  and  especially 
to  them  who  are  of  the  household  of  faith.’  ‘ Go  into  all  the  world,  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature  ’ willing  to  hear  it. 

“A  Justice  of  the  Peace  would  once  prosecute  me  upon  the  Con- 
venticle Act ; but,  when  it  came  to  the  point,  he  durst  not  do  it.  Some 
of  my  parishioners  went  and  complained  to  the  Bishop  about  my  con- 
venticles. I wrote  to  the  Registrar  that  I hoped  his  Lordship,  who  had 
given  me  the  above-mentioned  charge  at  my  ordination,  would  not  be 
against  my  following  it ; that  I thought  it  hard  the  tipplers  should  have 
twenty  or  thirty  tippling-houses,  the  papists  one  meeting-house,  and 
the  dissenters  three  or  four,  in  my  parish,  undisturbed,  and  that  I 
should  be  disturbed,  because  I would  not  have  God’s  Word  confined  to 
one  house ; and  that,  with  respect  to  the  canons,  it  would  be  absurd 
to  put  them  in  force  against  preaching  clergymen,  when  they  were  set 


Age  40.] 


Wesley*  s Doctrinal  Minutes* 


169 


aside  with  respect  to  catechising,  tippling,  gaming,  and  carding  clergy- 
men ; that  I did  not  desire  his  Lordship  to  patronize  me,  in  an  especial 
manner,  in  the  use  of  my  Christian  liberty ; but  that  I hoped  he  would 
connive  at  it. 

‘'Whether  they  received  my  letter  or  not,  I do  not  know;  but  they 
never  attempted  to  molest  me. 

“ Be  modestly  and  steadily  bold  for  God,  and  your  enemies  will  be 
more  afraid  of  you  than  you  of  them  ; or  if  God  will  honour  you  with 
the  badge  of  persecution.  He  will  comfort  and  bless  you  the  more  for  it. 
May  the  God  of  all  grace  and  power  be  with  you  more  and  more  ! 
Ask  it,  dear  Sir,  for  your  brother  and  servant  in  Christ, 

“ J.  Fletcher.’'  ^ 

Fletcher  had  been  only  a few  weeks  at  home,  when 
Wesley  opened  the  Annual  Conference  of  his  Itinerant 
Preachers.  This  took  place  in  London,  on  August  7,  1770. 
The  twenty-eighth  question  of  that  Conference  was,  ‘‘  What 
can  be  done  to  revive  the  work  of  God  where  it  is  decayed  } '' 
In  answering  this,  it  was  resolved,  i.  That  there  must  be 
more  visitation  from  house  to  house ; 2.  That  the  books 
Wesley  had  printed  should  be  more  widely  dispersed  ; 3. 
That  there  should  be  more  field-preaching  ; 4.  That  there 
should  be  preaching  at  five  o’clock  in  the  morning  wherever 
twenty  hearers  could  be  obtained  ; 5.  That  evils  in  con- 
gregational singing  should  be  corrected  ; 6.  That  four  fast- 
days  should  be  observed  every  year  ; 7.  That  the  Methodists 
must  be  taught  to  seek  and  expect,  not  only  gradual^  but 
“ instantaneous  sanctification  ” ; 8.  That  every  Itinerant 

Preacher,  ‘‘  in  every  large  town,  should  spend  an  hour  with 
the  children  ” of  the  Methodists  every  week  ; 9.  That  no 
itinerant  preacher  should  be  so  appointed  to  preach  on 
Sundays,  as  to  keep  him  “ from  church  above  two  Sundays 
in  four.” 

The  last  answer  to  the  question  is  the  only  one  that 
concerns  the  Life  of  Fletcher,  and  must  be  given  verbatim. 
Continuing  to  instruct  and  direct  his  preachers,  Wesley 
observed,  lastly, — 

“ Take  heed  to  your  doctrine. 

“We  said,  in  1744,  ‘We  have  leaned  too  much  toward  Calvinism.* 
Wherein  ? 

“ I.  With  regard  to  man^s faithfulness.  Our  Lord  Himself  taught 


Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  257. 


170 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor, 


[1770. 


US  to  use  the  expression,  and  we  ought  never  to  be  ashamed  of  it.  We 
ought  steadily  to  assert,  on  His  authority,  that  if  a man  is  not  ‘ faithful 
in  the  unrighteous  mammon,’  God  will  not  give  him  ' the  true  riches.'' 

‘‘2.  With  regard  to  working  for  life.  This  also  our  Lord  has 
expressly  commanded  us.  ‘ Labour,’  epyaCeaBe,  literally,  ‘ work  for  the 
meat  that  endureth  to  everlasting  life.’  And,  in  fact,  every  believer, 
till  he  comes  to  glory,  works  for  as  well  as  from  life. 

‘‘3.  We  have  received  it  as  a maxim,  that  ‘a  man  is  to  do  nothing 
in  order  to  justification.’  Nothing  can  be  more  false.  Whoever  desires 
to  find  favour  with  God  should  ‘ cease  from  evil,  and  learn  to  do  well.’ 
Whoever  repents  should  do  ‘works  meet  for  repentance.’  And  if  this 
is  not  in  order  to  find  favour,  what  does  he  do  them  for  ? 

“ Review  the  whole  affair. 

“ I.  Who  of  us  is  now  accepted  of  God  ? 

“ He  that  now  believes  in  Christ  with  a loving  and  obedient  heart. 

“2.  But  who  among  those  who  never  heard  of  Christ  ? 

“He  that  feareth  God,  and  worketh  righteousness  according  to  the 
light  he  has. 

“3.  Is  this  the  same  with  ‘ he  that  is  sincere  ’ ? 

“ Nearly,  if  not  quite. 

“4.  Is  not  this  ‘ salvation  by  works  ’ ? 

“ Not  by  the  merit  of  works,  but  by  works  as  a condition. 

“5.  What  have  we  then  been  disputing  about  for  these  thirty  years  ? 

‘ ‘ I am  afraid,  about  words. 

“6.  As  to  merit  itself,  of  which  we  have  been  so  dreadfully  afraid: 
we  are  rewarded  ‘ according  to  our  works,’  yea,  ‘ because  of  our  works.’ 
How  does  this  differ  from  for  the  sake  of  our  works?  And  how  differs 
this  from  secundum  merita  operum  ? As  our  works  deserve.  Can 
you  split  this  hair  ? I doubt  I cannot. 

“7.  The  grand  objection  to  one  of  the  preceding  propositions  is 
drawn  from  a matter  of  fact.  God  does  in  fact  justify  those  who,  by 
their  own  confession,  neither  feared  God  nor  wrought  righteousness. 
Is  this  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  ? 

“It  is  a doubt,  God  makes  any  exception  at  all.  But  how  are  we 
sure  that  the  person  in  question  never  did  fear  God  and  work  righteous- 
ness ? His  own  saying  so  is  not  proof ; for  we  know  how  all  that  are 
convinced  of  sin  undervalue  themselves  in  every  respect. 

“8.  Does  not  talking  of  a justified  or  a sanctified  state  tend  to 
mislead  men,  almost  naturally  leading  them  to  trust  in  what  was 
done  in  one  moment  ? Whereas  we  are  every  hour  and  every  moment 
pleasing  or  displeasing  to  God,  ‘ according  to  our  works.’  According 
to  the  whole  of  our  inward  tempers,  and  our  outward  behaviour.”  ^ 

For  the  next  five  years  (1770 — I77S),  Fletcher  made  it 
his  duty  to  explain  and  defend  these  theological  theses  ; and 


‘ “ Minutes  of  the  Methodist  Conferences,”  vol.  i.,  p.  97. 


Age  40.]  Second  Anniversary  of  Trevecca  College.  17 1 


a review  of  this  quinquennial  controversy — as  concise  as 
possible — must  now  be  attempted. 

Eight  days  after  the  close  of  Wesley’s  Conference,  Lady 
Huntingdon,  with  the  Rev.  Walter  Shirley  and  the  Rev. 
Henry  Venn,  arrived  at  Mr.  Ireland’s  residence  at  Brislington, 
on  their  way  to  Trevecca  to  attend  the  services  in  connection 
with  the  anniversary  of  the  College.  Wesley  had  been  at 
the  anniversary  a year  ago,  and  had  been  invited  to  be  at 
the  present  one.  Accordingly,  he  remained  in  Bristol  with 
the  expectation  of  accompanying  her  ladyship  to  Wales,  but, 
horrified  by  the  doctrinal  minutes  of  his  late  Conference,  she 
wrote  to  him  saying  that,  until  he  renounced  such  doctrines, 
she  must  exclude  him  from  all  her  pulpits.  Wesley  returned 
no  reply  to  this  communication,  but,  next  day,  calmly  and 
quietly  set  out  for  Cornwall.^ 

The  day  after  this,  the  Countess,  accompanied  by  Shirley 
and  Venn,  Lady  Anne  Erskine,  Miss  Orton,  Mr.  Ireland, 
and  Mr.  Lloyd,  started  for  Trevecca,  where  Fletcher,  the 
President  of  the  College,  was  ready  to  receive  them.  Here, 
also,  were  assembled  three  of  the  Methodist  clergymen  in 
Wales,  William  Williams,  Peter  Williams,  and  Daniel  Row- 
lands; likewise  Howell  Harris,  and  several  other  lay  preachers 
and  exhorters.  On  Wednesday,  August  23,  at  nine  in  the 
morning,  Shirley  administered  the  Lord’s  Supper  ; at  ten, 
Fletcher  preached  ; at  two  in  the  afternoon,  Venn  addressed 
the  students  ; and  at  four,  Howell  Harris  addressed  a large 
congregation  in  the  court  of  the  College.  On  Thursday 
morning,  August  24,  Venn  administered  the  sacrament ; at 
ten,  Daniel  Rowlands  and  William  Williams  preached  in  the 
court ; at  two,  Shirley  examined  the  students,  and  gave  an 
exhortation  ; at  four,  Peter  Williams  discoursed  in  the  chapel, 
and  some  of  the  lay  preachers  in  the  court.  In  the  evening 
Berridge  arrived  at  the  College. 

On  Friday,  August  24,  the  anniversary  day  of  the  opening, 
a public  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  the  chapel,  at  six  o’clock 
in  the  morning,  when  Rowlands,  Williams,  Harris,  and  Ber- 


^ It  is  said  that  when  Shirley  sent  her  ladyship  a copy  of  Wesley’s 
Doctrinal  Minutes,  she  burnt  it.  (Bogue  and  Bennett’s  “ History  of 
Dissenters.”) 


172 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1770- 


ridge  offered  prayer  ; after  which  Fletcher,  as  President  of 
the  College,  administered  the  Lord’s  Supper,  first  to  ten 
clergymen,  then  to  the  students,  then  to  Lady  Huntingdon 
and  her  household,  and  then  to  the  congregation  in  general. 
Public  service  began  at  ten.  A scaffold  was  erected  in  the 
court,  on  which  sat  all  the  clergy,  dissenting  ministers,  lay 
preachers,  and  students.  Fletcher  read  the  liturgy  of  the 
Church  of  England,  Peter  Williams  offered  extemporary 
prayer,  the  vast  congregation  sang  most  lustily  the  glorious 
hymn  of  heretical  Wesley,  beginning  with  the  line. 

Arm  of  the  Lord,  awake,  awake  ! ” 

Shirley  preached  from  the  words,  " For  after  that,  in  the 
wisdom  of  God,  it  pleased  God,  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching, 
to  save  them  that  believe.”  Then  William  Williams  followed 
with  a sermon  in  Welsh.  At  two,  her  ladyship’s  guests  all 
dined,  the  people  in  the  chapel  and  in  the  court  continuing 
to  sing  and  pray.  At  three,  Berridge  discoursed  from,  ^'They 
went  forth  and  preached  everywhere,  the  Lord  working  with 
them,  and  confirming  the  word  with  signs  following.”  After 
him,  Daniel  Rowlands,  in  his  own  eloquent  and  powerful 
manner,  addressed  the  multitude  in  Welsh,  taking  as  his 
text,  ‘‘  We  preach  Christ  crucified.”  In  the  evening,  Venn 
delivered  a sort  of  charge  to  the  ministers,  students,  and  lay 
preachers,  from  the  text,  “ Preach  the  word  ; be  instant  in 
season,  out  of  season  ; ” and  Fletcher  concluded  the  services 
of  the  anniversary  by  offering  prayer. 

The  next  morning,  however,  at  seven  o’clock,  these  godly 
and  earnest  people  held  another  prayer-meeting  in  the 
chapel,  in  which  Shirley,  Venn,  Berridge,  and  Fletcher  took 
part.  On  the  day  following,  Sunday,  August  26,  Venn  and 
Berridge  preached,  and  then  this  memorable  assemblage 
dispersed.  Lady  Huntingdon  proceeding,  by  way  of  Berwick 
and  Worcester,  to  Bristol,  where  she  met  Charles  Wesley, 
and,  despite  the  heresy  of  his  brother  and  the  itinerants  at 
the  late  Conference,  took  him  to  Bath  to  preach  several 
times  in  her  chapel  in  that  city.^ 


^ ^‘Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  pp.  106 — 


109. 


Age  41.] 


Wesley  Traduced, 


173 


Truly,  these  were  glorious  days  ; but,  mournful  to  relate, 
they  were  soon  followed  by  days  of  strife  and  bitterness. 
Wesley  was  accused  of  having  renounced  the  doctrines  of 
the  Reformation.  He  was  traduced  as  a Pelagian,  a Pharisee, 
a Papist,  an  Antichrist.  ^ All  this  was  unjust  and  untrue. 
In  less  than  four  months  after  the  memorable  Conference  of 
1770,  Wesley  preached  his  “Sermon  on  the  Death  of 
Whitefield,”  in  which  he  said  : — 

‘‘The  fundamental  point  of  Mr.  Whitefield  was,  give  God  all  the 
glory  of  whatever  is  good  in  man  ; and,  in  the  business  of  salvation, 
set  Christ  as  high,  and  man  as  low  as  possible.  With  this  point,  he 
and  his  friends  at  Oxford,  the  original  Methodists  (so-called)  set  out. 
Their  grand  principle  was,  there  is  no  ;power  (by  nature)  and  no  merit 
in  man.  They  insisted,  all  power  to  think,  speak,  or  act  right,  is  in 
and  from  the  Spirit  of  Christ ; and  all  merit  is  (not  in  man,  how  high 
soever  in  grace,  but  merely)  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  So  he  and  they 
taught ; There  is  no  power  in  man,  till  it  is  given  him  from  above,  to 
do  one  good  work,  to  speak  one  good  word,  or  to  form  one  good  desire. 
For  it  is  not  enough  to  say,  all  are  sick  of  sin  : no,  we  are  all  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins.  It  follows  that  all  the  children  of  men  are  by  nature 
children  of  wrath.  We  are  all  guilty  before  God,  liable  to  death 
temporal  and  eternal. 

“And  we  are  all  helpless,  both  with  regard  to  the  power  and  to  the 
guilt  of  sin.  For  who  can  bring  a clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean  ? 
None  less  than  the  Almighty.  Who  can  raise  those  that  are  dead, 
spiritually  dead  in  sin  ? None  but  He  who  raised  us  from  the  dust  of 
the  earth.  But  on  what  consideration  will  He  do  this  ? Not  for  works 
of  righteousness  that  we  have  done.  The  dead  cannot  praise  Thee, 
O Lord  J nor  do  anything  for  the  sake  of  which  they  should  be  raised 
to  life.  Whatever  therefore  God  does.  He  does  it  merely  for  the  sake 
of  His  well-beloved  Son  : He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions.  He 
was  bruised  for  otcr  iniquities.  He  HLns  elf  bore  all  our  sin  in  His 
own  body  tcpon  the  tree.  He  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and  rose 
again  for  our  justification.  Here  then  is  the  sole  meritorious  cause 
of  every  blessing  we  do  or  can  enjoy : in  particular  of  our  pardon  and 
acceptance  with  God,  of  our  free  and  full  justification.  But  by  what 
means  do  we  become  interested  in  what  Christ  has  done  and  suffered  ? 
Not  by  works,  lest  any  man  should  boast;  but  by  faith  alone.  We 
conclude,  says  the  Apostle,  that  a man  is  justified  by  faith,  without 
the  works  of  the  law.  And  to  as  many  as  thus  receive  Him,  giveth 
He  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God : even  to  those  that  believe  in  His 
name,  who  are  born,  not  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God. 

“ And  except  a man  be  thus  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom 


Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  i.,  p.  209. 


174 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


of  God.  But  all  who  are  thus  born  of  the  Spirit,  have  the  kingdom 
of  God  within  them.  Christ  sets  up  His  kingdom  in  their  hearts — 
righteousness,  ^eace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  That  mind  is  in 
them,  which  was  in  Christ  fesus,  enabling  them  to  walk  as  Christ 
also  walked.  His  indwelling  Spirit  makes  them  both  holy  in  heart, 
and  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation.  But  still,  seeing  all  this  is 
a free  gift,  through  the  righteousness  and  blood  of  Christ,  there  is 
eternally  the  same  reason  to  remember,  He  that  glorieth,  let  hhn  glory 
in  the  Lord. 

^‘You  are  not  ignorant,  that  these  are  the  fundamental  doctrines 
which  he  (Mr.  Whitefield)  everywhere  insisted  on.  And  may  they  not 
be  summed  up,  as  it  were,  in  two  words.  The  new  birth,  and  jus tifi- 
cation  by  faith.  These  let  us  insist  upon,  with  all  boldness,  at  all 
times,  and  in  all  places.  In  public  (those  of  us  who  are  called  thereto), 
and,  at  all  opportunities,  in  private.  Keep  close  to  these  good  old  un- 
fashionable doctrines,  how  many  soever  contradict  and  blaspheme.  Go 
on,  my  brethren,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  jower  of  His 
might.  With  all  care  and  diligence,  keej  that  safe  which  is  com- 
mitted to  your  trust : knowing  that  heaven  and  earth  shall  jass 
away  ; but  this  truth  shall  not  j> ass  away.''^ 

Thus  did  Wesley  address  the  crovv^ds  of  Calvinists,  in 
Whitefield’s  two  London  chapels,  on  Sunday,  November  18, 
1770.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  meant  this  to  be 
an  answer  to  the  misrepresentations  and  calumnies  launched 
against  him,  on  account  of  the  doctrinal  minutes  of  his 
recent  Conference.  It  ought  to  have  been  sufficient  to 
silence  his  adversaries,  but  it  was  not.  Passion  is  more 
easily  excited  than  appeased.  In  a letter  to  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon,  Lady  Glenorchy  ^ wrote  : — 

‘'Edinburgh,  January  10,  1771. 

“Your  ladyship’s  account  of  what  occurred  at  Mr.  Wesley’s  last 
Conference  does  not  surprise  me.  I have  since  seen  the  Minutes,  and 
must  bear  my  feeble  testimony  against  the  sentiments  contained  in 
them.  May  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  be  with  you,  and  enable  you  to 
make  a firm  stand  in  defence  of  a free-grace  Gospel ! Lady  Anne’s 
letter  has  told  me  all  you  have  been  doing  in  this  momentous  affair. 
When  you  next  write  to  dear  Mr.  Shirley,  give  my  kindest  regards  to 
him,  and  also  to  Mr.  Venn,  Mr.  Fletcher,  and  Mr.  Romaine.  From 
what  Lady  Anne  says,  I fear  very  much  for  Mr.  Fletcher  that  he  will 


1 Wesley’s  “ Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Whitefield,”  p.  26. 

^ Lady  Glenorchy  opened  a number  of  chapels,  both  in  Scotland  and 
England,  and  did  her  utmost  to  supply  them  with  evangelical  ministers. 
She  was,  in  fact,  the  Lady  Huntingdon  of  Scotland. 


Age  41.]  Joseph  Beusou  dismissed from  Trevecca  College.  175 


be  carried  off  by  Mr.  Wesley’s  influence.  What  will  be  the  end  of  this 
business  I know  not.  I know  Mr.  Wesley  is  greatly  displeased  with 
me,  though  I have  always  countenanced  his  preachers ; but  now  I find 
this  cannot  be  done  by  me  any  longer.  Nevertheless,  I respect  him 
highly,  and  pray  that  he  may  be  led  in  the  way  of  truth.”  ^ 

Lady  Glenorchy  executed  her  conscientious  threat.  Lady 
Huntingdon  had  already  done  the  same.  Further  action 
was  taken.  Joseph  Benson  was  dismissed  from  Trevecca 
College,  because  he  adhered  to  the  doctrines  of  Wesley. 
The  good  Countess,  however,  gave  him  the  following  cer- 
tificate : — 

‘‘This  is  to  certify  that  Mr.  Joseph  Benson  was  master  for  the  lan- 
guages in  my  College  at  Talgarth  for  nine  months,  and  that,  during 
that  time,  from  his  capacity,  sobriety,  and  diligence,  he  acquitted  him- 
self properly  in  that  character ; and  I am  ready  at  any  time  to  testify 
this  on  his  behalf  whenever  required. 

“College,  January  17,  1771.  S.  Huntingdon. 

Benson  was  unexceptionable  as  a classical  master  ; but, 
in  her  ladyship’s  opinion,  he  was  a heretic  in  theological 
dogmas,  because  he  did  not  believe  the  doctrine  of  absolute 
predestination.  ^ Fletcher,  the  president  of  the  college,  was 
dissatisfied  with  her  ladyship’s  dismissal  of  the  master,  and 
wrote  to  her  as  follows  : — 

' January  7,  1771. 

“Mr.  Benson  made  a very  just  defence  when  he  said,  he  held  with 
me  the  possibility  of  salvation  for  all  men  ; that  mercy  is  offered  to  all ; 
and  yet  may  be  received  or  rejected.  If  this  be  what  your  ladyship 
calls  Mr.  Wesley’s  opinion,  free-will,  and  Arminianism,  and  if  ‘every 
Arminian  must  quit  the  College,’  I am  actually  discharged  also;  for, 
in  my  present  view  of  things,  I must  hold  that  sentiment,  if  I believe 
that  the  Bible  is  true,  and  that  God  is  love. 

“ For  my  part,  I am  no  party-man.  In  the  Lord,  I am  your  servant, 
and  that  of  your  every  student ; but  I cannot  give  up  the  honour  of  being 
connected  with  my  old  friends,  who,  notwithstanding  their  failings,  are 
entitled  to  my  respect,  gratitude,  and  assistance,  could  I occasionally 
give  them  any.  Mr.  Wesley  shall  always  be  welcome  to  my  pulpit,  and 
I shall  gladly  bear  my  testimony  in  his,  as  well  as  in  Mr.  Whitefield’s. 
But  if  your  ladyship  forbid  your  students  to  preach  for  the  one,  and 


^ “ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  i.,  p.  iii. 
2 Macdonald’s  “ Life  of  Benson.” 

® Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 


176 


TVesky  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


offer  them  to  preach  for  the  other  at  every  turn ; and  if  a master  is 
discarded  for  believing  that  Christ  died  for  all ; then  prejudice  reigns, 
charity  is  cruelly  wounded,  and  party  spirit  shouts,  prevails,  and 
triumphs.” 

On  the  same  day,  Fletcher  wrote  to  the  dismissed  Benson 
the  following : — 

January  7,  1771. 

‘^Dear  Sir, — The  same  post  brought  me  yours,  and  two  from  my 
lady,  and  one  from  Mr.  Williams. Their  letters  contained  no  charges, 
but  general  ones,  which  with  me  go  for  nothing.  If  the  procedure  you 
mention  be  fact,  and  your  letter  be  a fair  account  of  the  transactions 
and  words  relative  to  your  discharge,  a false  step  has  been  taken. 
I write  by  this  post  to  her  ladyship  on  the  affair,  with  all  possible  plain- 
ness. If  the  plan  of  the  college  be  overthrown,  I have  nothing  more  to 
say  to  it.  I will  keep  to  my  tent  for  one  ; the  confined  tool  of  any  one 
party  I never  was,  and  never  will  be.  If  the  blow  that  should  have  been 
struck  at  the  dead  sj>irit,  is  struck  at  dead  Arminius,  or  absent  Mr. 
Wesley, — if  a master  is  turned  away  without  any  fault,  it  is  time  for  me 
to  stand  up  with  firmness,  or  to  withdraw. 

^*Take  care,  my  dear  Sir,  not  to  make  matters  worse  than  they  are  ; 
and  cast  a mantle  of  forgiving  love  over  the  circumstances  that  might 
injure  the  cause  of  God,  so  far  as  it  is  put  into  the  hands  of  that 
eminent  lady,  who  has  so  well  deserved  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Rather 
suffer  in  silence,  than  make  a noise  to  cause  the  Philistines  to  triumph. 
Do  not  let  go  your  expectation  of  a baptism  from  above.  May  you  be 
supported  in  this  and  every  other  trial ! Farewell ! 

” J.  Fletcher.” 

Two  days  later,  Fletcher  wrote  again  to  Benson  as 
follows  : — 


” January  9,  1771. 

I am  determined  to  stand  or  fall  with  the  liberty  of  the  College.  As 
I entered  it  a free  place,  I must  quit  it  the  moment  it  is  a harbour  for 
party  spirit. 

As  I am  resolved  to  clear  up  this  matter  or  quit  my  province,  I beg 
you  will  help  me  to  as  many  facts  and  words,  truly  done,  and  really 
spoken,  as  you  can  ; whereby  I may  show  that  false  reports,  groundless 
suspicions,  party  spirit  against  Mr.  Wesley,  arbitraiy  proceedings,  and 
unscriptural  impulses,  hold  the  reins  and  manage  affairs  in  the  College  ; 
as  also  that  the  balance  of  opinions  is  not  maintained,  and  Mr.  Wesley’s 


^ A clergyman,  who,  professing  to  be  under  serious  impressions,  had 
been  permitted  b}^  her  ladyship  to  stay  a few  weeks  at  the  college  ; but 
was  neither  master  nor  student.  Fletcher  termed  him  '‘a  bird  of 
passage.” 


Age  41.]  Fletcher's  Unpublished  Letter  to  Wesley. 


177 


opinions  are  dreaded,  and  struck  at,  more  than  deadness  of  heart,  and 
a wrong  conduct. 

So  far  as  we  can,  let  us  keep  this  matter  to  ourselves.  When  you 
speak  of  it  to  others,  rather  endeavour  to  palliate  than  aggravate  what 
has  been  wrong  in  your  opposers.  Remember  that  great  lady  has  been 
an  instrument  of  great  good,  and  that  there  are  great  inconsistencies 
attending  the  greatest  and  best  of  men.  Possess  your  soul  in  patience. 
See  the  salvation  of  God  ; and  believe,  though  against  hope,  that  light 
will  spring  out  of  darkness. 

I am,  with  concern  for  you  and  that  poor  College, 

“ Yours,  in  Jesus, 

''J.  Fletcher.” 

On  February  20,  Fletcher  set  out  for  the  College;^  and, 
on  his  return  to  Madeley,  he  wrote  to  Wesley  the  following 
hitherto  unpublished  letter  : — 


'‘Madeley,  March  18,  1771. 

“ Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I was  sorry  not  to  have  had  it  in  my  power 
to  meet  you  in  Shropshire,^  and  give  you,  by  word  of  mouth,  an  account 
of  what  passed  at  Lady  Huntingdon’s  College  respecting  you,  at  my 
last  visit  there. 

“The  hasty  admitting  of  subjects  that  did  not  appear  to  me  proper; 
the  sanguine  hopes  they  would  turn  out  against  probability,  the  divisions 
at  Brecknock  and  the  Hay,  and  some  things  that  I did  not  approve  in 
Mr.  Benson’s  dismission,  gave  me  a disgust  to  the  College.  Never- 
theless, I went  to  try  to  make  the  best  of  the  matter ; but  I found  at 
my  arrival  that  the  students  had  been  armed  by  Mr.  Shirley  against  the 
point  I had,  with  some  success,  maintained  when  I was  there  before, 
namely,  internal  conversion  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  dwelling  in 
the  heart  by  faith.  He  called  it  pperfection,  and  as  such  baited  it  out 
of  the  place. 

“ I saw  the  College  was  no  longer  my  place,  as  I was  not  likely  to  do 
or  receive  any  good  there,  especially  as  Calvinism  strongly  prevailed. 
Under  these  circumstances,  and  humbling  views  of  m}^  insufficiency,  I 
told  my  lady  and  all  around  me,  I resigned  the  place  of  superintendent; 
nevertheless,  I would  stay  awhile  to  supply  the  want  of  a master. 

“ In  the  meantime,  an  extract  of  your  last  Minutes  was  sent  to  my 
lady,  who  wept  much  over  it,  through  an  honest  fear  that  you  had  fairly 
and  fully  given  up  the  grand  point  of  the  Methodists,  free  justification, 
articulum  stantis  vel  cadentis  ecclesicc.  The  heresy  appeared  horrible 
worth  being  publicly  opposed,  and  such  as  a true  believer  ought  to  be 
ready  to  burn  against.  I tried  to  soften  matters,  but  in  vain.  The 
students  were  commanded  to  write  their  sentiments  upon  your  doctrine 


^ “Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  vol.  iii.,  p.  88. 

^ Wesley  was  at  Wem  only  three  days  before  this  letter  was  written. 


178 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


of  salvation  by  works,  working  for  life,  the  merit  of  works,  etc.  ; and 
whoever  did  not  fully  disavow  it,  was  to  quit  the  College.  I wrote  among 
the  rest,  and  showed  the  absurdity  of  inferring  from  these  Minutes  that 
you  had  renounced  the  Protestant  doctrine  and  the  atonement.  I 
defended  your  sentiments,  by  explaining  them  as  I have  heard  you  do, 
and  only  blamed  the  unguarded  and  not  sufficiently  explicit  manner  in 
which  they  were  worded.  I concluded  by  saying,  that,  as,  after  Lady 
Huntingdon’s  declaration,  I could  no  longer  stay  in  the  College,  but  as 
an  intruder,  I absolutely  resigned  my  place,  as  I must  appear  to  all 
around  as  great  a heretic  as  yourself. 

“This  step  had  a better  effect  than  I expected.  My  lady  weighed 
with  candour  what  I had  advanced,  though  she  thought  it  too  bad  to  be 
laid  before  the  students.  In  short,  I retired  in  peace  and  as  peacemaker, 
the  servant  and  no  more  the  principal  of  the  College.  I advised  Lady 
Huntingdon  to  choose  a moderate  Calvinist  in  my  place,  and  recom- 
mended Mr.  Rowland  Hill.  The  College  will  take  quite  a Calvinist 
turn,  and  an  itinerant  ministry  will  go  out  of  it  to  feed  the  Church  of 
God  of  that  sentimental  denomination.  I strongly  recommended  them 
to  set  fire  to  the  harvest  of  the  Philistines,  and  not  to  that  of  their  fellow 
Israelites  who  cannot  pronounce  Shibboleth  in  their  way.  My  lady 
seemed  quite  disposed  for  peace  last  Friday  and  she  will  write  to  you 
to  beg  you  will  explain  yourself  upon  the  Minutes,  that  she  and  the 
College  may  see  you  are  not  an  enemy  to  grace ^ and  may  be  friends  at 
a distance,  instead  of  open  adversaries. 

“ And  now,  my  dear  Sir,  I beseech  you  to  put  on  all  the  bowels  of 
mercy  and  condescension  that  are  in  Christ,  to  hope  the  College  and 
its  foundress  mean  well ; and  give  them  all  the  satisfaction  you  can.  I 
need  not  bring  to  your  remembrance  the  words  of  the  Apostle,  ‘As  much 
as  lieth  in  you,  live  peaceably  with  all  men.’  I trust  they  are  graven 
on  your  heart,  and  that,  should  war  ensue,  your  moderation  will  still 
appear  to  all  men.  The  points  that  will  most  stop  the  mouth  of  our 
friend  are  the  total  fall  of  man,  and  his  utter  inability  to  do  any  good  of 
himself ; the  absolute  necessity  of  the  grace  and  Spirit  of  God  to  raise 
even  a good  thought  or  desire  in  the  heart ; the  Lord  rewarding  no 
work,  or  accepting  of  none,  but  so  far  as  they  proceed  from  His  pre- 
venting, convincing,  and  converting  grace  ; the  blood  and  righteousness 
of  Christ  being  the  sole  meritorious  cause  of  our  salvation,  and  the  only 
spring  of  all  acceptable  works,  whether  we  do  them  spontaneously  from 
life  or  for  more  abundant  life. 

“I  look  upon  Lady  Huntingdon  as  an  eminent  servant  of  God,  an 
honest,  gracious  person,  but  not  above  the  reach  of  prejudice ; and 
where  prejudice  misleads  her,  her  warm  heart  makes  her  go  rather  too 
fast.  It  is  in  your  power  greatly  to  break,  if  not  altogether  to  remove, 
the  prejudice  she  has  conceived  against  you,  and  to  become  all  things 
to  her,  that  you  may  not  cause  her  to  stumble  in  the  greatness  of  her 


The  day  Wesley  was  at  Wem,  namely,  March  15. 


41.] 


Fletcher  Resig7is  his  Office  at  Trevecca, 


179 


zeal  for  the  Lord.  The  best  way  to  get  the  Calvinists  to  allow  us  some- 
thing, is  to  grant  them  all  we  possibly  can. 

As  your  enemies  will  particularly  watch  your  writings  and  sermons, 
and  Satan  your  heart  to  find  an  occasion  against  you  by  self-righteous- 
ness and  dependence  upon  your  great  works,  my  prayer  is  that  you  may 
fully  disappoint  them,  by  guarding  the  Gospel  truth  in  your  own  heart 
and  life  and  doctrine,  as  much  from  the  legal  as  the  antinomian  extreme, 
between  which  it  invariably  lies. 

With  respect  to  me,  I am  not  yet  a Christian  in  the  full  sense  of 
the  word  ; but  I follow  after,  if  so  be  I may  apprehend  that  for  which  I 
am  apprehended  of  Christ.  Take  no  notice  of  my  scrawl.  Pray  for, 
and  direct.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate  friend  and  unworthy 
servant  in  Christ, 

''J.  Fletcher. 

^^To 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley, 

‘‘  At  the  Octagone, 

‘‘Chester.”  (Salop  postmark.) 

Four  days  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Fletcher  wrote  to 
Benson,  giving  him  some  of  the  particulars  just  recited  ; but 
also  mentioning  other  facts,  too  interesting  and  important  to 
be  omitted  here. 

March  22,  1771. 

“ My  Dear  Friend. — On  my  arrival  at  the  College,  I found  all  very 
quiet,  I fear  through  the  enemy  keeping  his  goods  in  peace.  While  I 
preached  the  next  day,  I found  myself  as  much  shackled  as  ever  I was 
in  my  life  ; and,  after  private  prayer,  I concluded  I was  not  in  my  place. 
The  same  day  * I resigned  my  office  to  my  lady  ; and,  on  Wednesday, 
to  the  students  and  the  Lord.  Nevertheless,  I went  on  as  usual,  only  I 
had  no  heart  to  give  little  charges  to  the  students,  as  before.  I should 
possibly  have  got  over  it  as  a temptation,  if  several  circumstances  had 
not  confirmed  me  in  my  design.  Two  I shall  mention.  When  Mr. 
Shirley  was  at  the  College,  what  you  had  written  upon  the  ‘ baptism  of 
the  Holy  Ghost’  was  taken  to  pieces.  Mr.  Shirley  maintained  that  the 
prophecy  of  Joel  (Acts  ii.)  had  its  complete  fulfilment  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost ; and  thus  he  turned  the  stream  of  living  waters  into  imper- 
ceptible dews,  nemine  contradicefite,  except  two,  who  made  one  or  two 
feeble  objections ; so  that  the  point  was,  in  my  judgment,  turned  out  of 
the  College  after  you,  and  was  abused  under  the  name  of  ‘ Perfection, 
This  showed  I was  not  likely  to  receive  or  do  any  good  there. 

“ Some  days  after  my  arrival,  however,  I preached  the  good  old 

doctrine  before  my  Lady  and  Mr.  H . The  latter  also  talked  of 

imperceptible  infiuences,  and  the  former  thanked  me;  but,  in  my  appre- 


^ Wesley  says  he  “ sj>ent  the  day  in  fasting  and  prayer.”  (Wesley’s 
Works,  vol.  vii.,  p.  416.) 


i8o 


Wesky  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


hension,  spoiled  all  by  going  to  the  College  the  next  day,  to  give  a 
charge  partly  against  Perfection^  in  my  absence. 

‘‘  Last  Friday,  I left  them  all  in  peace,  the  servant ^ but  no  more  the 
president  of  the  College.  My  lady  behaved  with  great  candour  and 
condescension  towards  me  in  the  affair.  As  for  you,  you  are  still  out 
of  her  books,  and  are  likely  so  to  continue.  Your  last  letters  have  only 
thrown  oil  on  the  fire.  All  was  seen  in  the  same  light  in  which  Mr. 
Wesley’s  letter  appeared.  You  were  accused  of  having  alienated  my 
heart  from  the  College,  but  I have  cleared  you. 

1 rejoice  that  your  desires  after  a larger  measure  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
increase.  Part  rather  with  your  heart’s  blood  than  with  them.  Let 
me  meet  you  at  the  throne  of  grace  ; and  send  me  word  how  you  dispose 
of  yourself.  If  you  are  at  a loss  for  a prophet’s  room,  remember  I have 
one  here. 

‘'J.  Fletcher.”^ 

To  these  letters  must  be  added  a verbatim  copy  of  an 
important  document,  altogether  in  Fletcher’s  own  hand- 
writing, and  never  published  until  now. 

^‘An  account  of  John  Fletcher’s  case,  with  the  reasons  that  have 
induced  him  to  resign  the  superintendency  of  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon’s  College  in  Wales, 

I was  first  connected  with  Mr.  Wesley,  under  whom,  for  love  and 
gratitude’s  sake,  I occasionally  laboured  some  years. 

“By  Mr.  C.  Wesley  I had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  Lady 
Huntingdon,  who  kindly  admitted  me  to  the  office  of  a private  chaplain, 
and  granted  me  full  leave  to  assist  my  old  friends  as  often  as  I would. 

“ By  means  of  her  ladyship  I was  afterwards  introduced  to  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  had  the  honour  of  assisting  him  also  both  in  London 
and  Bristol,  and  found  myself  peculiarly  happy  in  showing,  by  my  equal 
readiness  to  throw  my  mite  of  assistance  where  it  was  accepted,  that 
though  I was  the  Lord’s  free  man  I delighted  to  be  the  common  servant 
of  all.  I was  glad  also  to  have  from  time  to  time  an  opportunity  of 
bearing  a kind  of  practical  testimony  against  the  spirit  of  party  and 
division,  which,  to  my  great  grief,  crumbled  the  Church  of  Christ 
around  me. 

“After  taking  a dangerous  turn  into  the  doctrines  of  election  and 
reprobation,  my  sentiments  settled  at  last  into  the  anti- Calvinist  way, 
in  which  Mr.  Wesley  was  rooted.  Notwithstanding  this,  it  became  a 
steady,  invariable  point  with  me  never  to  be  so  attached  to  his,  or  any 
one  party,  as  to  be  shy  of,  much  less  break  with  another. 

“ I had  soon  an  opportunity  of  being  closely  tried  in  my  spirit  of 
catholic  love.  - Mr.  Maxfield  separated  from  his  and  my  old  friend 
Mr.  Wesley.  I thought  him  rather  in  the  wrong,  and  Mr.  Wesley  was 
my  oldest  acquaintance.  Notwithstanding,  I ventured  upon  the  loss  of 


Benson’s  Life,  by  Macdonald. 


Age  41.]  Important  Unpublished  Manuscript. 


i8l 


his  friendship,  and  of  my  connection  with  him,  by  publicly  assisting 
Mr.  Maxfield  when  the  breach  between  them  was  widest,  and  the  press 
groaned  under  the  unkind  productions  of  their  unhappy  division.^ 
Though  I touched  Mr.  Wesley’s  friendship  in  the  tenderest  part,  he 
bore  with  me,  and  his  patience  increased  my  regard  for  him  ; nor  is  it 
at  all  abated  now,  though  1 have  had  little  opportunity  to  show  it  him, 
having  hardly  exchanged  one  or  two  letters  with  him  these  many  years. 

‘‘  Soon  after  Lady  Huntingdon  founded  her  College,  and  partly  by  her 
unmerited  esteem,  partly  by  Providence,  and  partly  by  my  desire  to  be 
a Gibeonite  to  God’s  people  and  hew  wood  if  I could  not  draw  water, 
I was  brought  to  have  a principal  share  in  the  management  of  it.  The 
free  spirit  that  breathed  in  the  noble  foundress’s  proposals,  and  the 
general  terms  of  admittance,  suited  my  catholic  taste,  and  the  liberty 
of  sentiment  granted  to  all  that  firmly  maintained  our  total  fall  in  Adam, 
attached  me  no  less  to  the  institution  than  its  excellence  and  the  prospect 
of  its  usefulness. 

Scruples  nevertheless  rose  in  my  mind.  The  first  was  a fear  lest 
improper  subjects,  persons  destitute  either  of  grace  or  gifts,  perhaps  of 
both,  were  admitted  with  the  greatest  readiness,  and  kept  upon  the 
foundation  with  the  most  sanguine  hopes  that  a day  of  Pentecost  would 
make  them  what  they  did  not  appear  to  me  to  be  as  yet — Christians  and 
preachers.  Flattering  myself  that  it  would  be  so,  after  some  modest 
expostulations  I submitted  my  judgment  to  that  of  the  noble  foundress, 
whose  light  I think  in  general  as  superior  to  mine  as  is  her  rank  and 
grace. 

“ The  Brecknock  division^  broke  out.  I suddenly  tried  to  prevent  it, 
but  it  took  place,  and  secretly  wounded  my  catholic  spirit.  Neverthe- 
less, hopes  that  the  Lord  might  overrule  it  for  good  soon  healed  the 
wound.  This  brought  on  a rupture  between  my  two  dear  and  honoured 
friends,  the  foundress  of  the  college  and  Mr.  Wesley.  An  unkind, 
though  I hope  well-meant  letter,  was  wrote  on  the  occasion  by  one,  and 
was  unkindly  received,  yea,  looked  upon  as  highly  insulting,  by  the 
other.  I saw  the  advantage  of  the  enemy.  I blamed,  and  yet  I loved 


* After  many  unhappy  contentions,  and  much  forbearance  on  Wesley’s 
part,  Thomas  Maxfield  seceded  from  Wesley  in  1763.  Maxfield  has 
been  far  more  highly  honoured  in  Methodist  histories  and  biographies 
than  his  merits  warranted. 

2 I have  failed  in  my  endeavour  to  ascertain  what  is  meant  by  the 
Brecknock  division.”  There  can  be  no  doubt,  however,  that  Wesley 
met  with  great  annoyance  in  that  part  of  Wales.  Previous  to  the 
opening  of  Trevecca  College,  he  wrote  : — 

**  1767.  September  2. — I found  the  work  of  God  in  Pembrokeshire  had 
been  exceedingly  hindered,  chiefly  by  Mr.  Davies’s  preachers,  who  had 
continually  inveighed  against  ours,  and  thereby  frightened  abundance 
of  people  from  hearing  or  coming  near  them.  This  had  sometimes 
provoked  them  to  retort,  which  always  made  a bad  matter  worse.  The 
advice,  therefore,  which  I gave  them  was: — i.  Let  all  the  people  sacredly 
abstain  from  backbiting,  tale-bearing,  evil-speaking.  2.  Let  all  our 
preachers  abstain  from  returning  railing  for  railing,  either  in  public  or 


182 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


them  both.  Where  I could  not  soften  matters  I remained  neuter. 
Hence,  however,  arose  a difficulty  how  I should  be  faithful  to  my  lady 
without  being  unfaithful  to  Mr.  Wesley.  Meantime,  the  prejudice 
seemed  to  me  to  rise,  and  somewhat  sowed  the  seeds  of  the  Hay  division. 
Mr.  Benson’s  dismission  followed,  and  though  I hope  it  was  from 
the  Lord,  yet  I could  not  help  blaming  the  manner  in  which  it  was 
conducted. 

‘‘Lady  Huntingdon  said  on  the  occasion,  nobody  that  held  Mr. 
Wesley’s  opinions  should  stay  in  the  College  ; every  Arminian  should 
quit  the  place.  This  wounded  again  my  catholic  spirit,  and  appeared 
to  me  a breach  of  the  privilege  most  solemnly  granted  to  the  members 
of  the  College  at  the  opening  of  it.  I thought  that  my  lady  had  no 
right  to  impose  such  a law — a law  so  contrary  to  her  first  proposals — 
till  it  had  received  a proper  sanction  by  a majority  of  the  votes  both  of 
masters  and  students,  and  till  leave  had  been  granted  to  those  who 
could  not  in  conscience  come  into  it  to  withdraw  quietly,  without  the 
odium  of  an  expulsion.  I observed  that  if  this  was  the  case,  I looked 
upon  myself  as  discharged,  because  I for  one  could  no  more  believe 
that  Christ  did  not  taste  death  for  every  man,  than  I could  believe  God 
was  not  truth  and  love  ; and  because  all  the  sentiments  of  Mr.  Wesley 
obnoxious  to  the  Calvinist,  except  perfection,  are  inseparably  con- 
nected with  general  redemption. 

“ With  regard  to  perfection  itself,  I believe  that  when  Mr.  Wesley  is 
altogether  consistent  upon  that  subject,  he  means  absolutely  nothing 
by  it  but  the  full  cluster  of  Gospel  blessings,  which  Lady  Huntingdon 
so  warmly  presses  the  students  to  pursue  ; namely.  Gospel  faith,  the 
immediate  revelation  of  Christ,  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the 
Spirit  of  adoption,  the  kingdom  that  cannot  be  moved,  the  element  of 
forgiving  love,  deep  and  uninterrupted  poverty  of  spirit,  and,  in  a word,  a 
standing  upon  Mount  Sion  and  enjoying  its  great  and  glorious  privileges. 
And  I am  fully  persuaded  that,  in  this  respect,  there  is  more  misunder- 
standing between  my  lady  and  Mr.  Wesley  about  words  and  modes  of 
expression  than  about  things  and  essential  principles.  All  the  difference 
between  them  seems  to  me  to  consist  in  this : my  lady  is  more  for 
looking  to  the  misery  and  depth  of  the  fall ; Mr.  Wesley  more  for  con- 
sidering the  power  and  effects  of  the  recovery.  My  lady  speaks  glorious 


in  private,  as  well  as  from  disputing.  3.  Let  them  never  preach  con- 
troversy, but  plain,  practical,  and  experimental  religion.” 

A year  and  a half  after  Fletcher  left  Trevecca,  Wesley  wrote  again  in 
his  journal : — 

“ 1772.  August  14. — About  noon,  at  the  request  of  my  old  friend 
Howell  Harris,  I preached  at  Trevecca,  on  the  strait  gate,  and  we 
found  our  hearts  knit  together  as  at  the  beginning.  He  said,  ‘ I have 
borne  with  these  pert,  ignorant  young  men,  vulgarly  called  students, 
till  I cannot  in  conscience  bear  any  longer.  They  preach  barefaced 
reprobation,  and  so  broad  antinomianism,  that  I have  been  constrained 
to  oppose  them  to  the  face,  even  in  the  public  congregation.’  It  is  no 
wonder  they  should  preach  thus.  What  better  can  be  expected  from 
raw  lads  of  little  understanding,  little  learning,  and  no  experience?  ” 


Age  41.]  Important  Unpublished  Manuscript.  183 


things  of  free  grace ; and  Mr.  Wesley  inculcates  the  glorious  use  we 
ought  to  make  of  it.  Both  appear  to  me  to  maintain  one  and  the  same 
truth,  and  to  guard  it ; my  lady  against  the  Legalists,  Mr.  Wesley 
against  the  Antinomians.  If,  therefore,  they  do  not  understand  one 
another,  and  fall  out  by  the  way,  I shall  think  it  is  a great  pity,  and 
shall  continue  to  be,  at  least  in  my  heart,  the  loving  servant  of  both ; 
though  both  will  possibly  think  me  prejudiced  for  not  seeing  just  as 
they  do. 

“ I was  also  grieved  that  my  lady  should  have  received  for  truth  so 
absurd  an  imagination  as  that  of  Mr.  Wesley  being  willing  to  give^ioo 
a-year  to  a rigid  Calvinist  in  bondage,  who  just  read  prayers  with  a 
Welsh  accent,  and  that  wise  Benson  made  the  foolish  proposal  to  him, 
when  Benson,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  feared  his  head  was  at  times  a 
little  affected.  And  I began  to  fear  lest  my  lady  should,  upon  the  most 
improbable  assertions,  receive  unfavourable  impressions  against  me,  as 
she  had  done  against  her  old  friend  Mr.  Wesley,  especially  as  my  par- 
ticular regard  for  him  was  still  the  same. 

“ Be  that  as  it  will,  my  regard  for  Lady  Huntingdon  and  the  students 
made  me  send  her  ladyship  my  sentimental  creed,  that,  if  she  did  not 
disapprove  of  it,  I might  come  to  the  College  ; and  I came,  to  my 
thinking  and  feeling,  as  free  and  as  happy  as  ever,  and  was  quite  free 
on  the  Saturday  evening  and  the  next  morning  till  noon,  when  the  little 
commission  and  authority  I had  to  exhort  the  students  was  quite  taken 
away  from  me.  As  I preached  in  the  chapel,  an  uncommon  weight 
came  upon  me  on  a sudden,  and  it  was  not  without  much  difficulty  that 
I struggled  under  it  through  the  rest  of  my  sermon.  As  soon  as  the 
service  was  over,  I retired  to  my  room  in  very  great  heaviness  and 
distress.  I saw  in  the  clearest  light  that  I was  not  in  my  place,  and 
must  no  longer  preside  in  the  College.  From  that  time,  I had  no  heart 
to  speak  to  the  students  on  the  things  of  God.  So  clear  and  strong  was 
my  conviction  that  I mentioned  it  directly  to  Mr.  Howell  Harris,  and 
that  very  evening  to  my  lady,  and  to  all  the  students  on  the  next 
Wednesday ; and  as  I concluded  our  morning  meeting  with  prayer,  I 
was  led  solemnly  upon  my  knees  to  resign  my  charge  to  God,  and  to 
pray  for  a proper  person  to  preside  in  my  place. 

Nevertheless  my  high  regard  for  my  lady,  and  my  love  for  the 
students,  prevented  me  from  being  faithful  to  my  conviction,  and  I would 
have  quenched  it,  if  I had  been  able.  But  several  things  happened 
which  gave  me  courage  to  be  faithful. 

Lady  Huntingdon  showed  me  a letter  to  Hook,  which  she  had  read 
to  the  students ; and,  though  I admired  the  honesty  and  impartiality 
that  appeared  in  it,  I afterwards  thought  hard  of  that  expression,  that 
every  one  who  held  eternal  justification  must  quit  the  College.  This 
appeared  to  me  as  severe  upon  consistent  Calvinists,  as  the  like  expres- 
sion before  upon  consistent  Arminians,  as,  I believe,  every  Predestinarian, 
who  will  not  contradict  himself,  must  hold  himself  eternally  justified  in 
God’s  sight. 

‘‘  I had  reason  to  fear  Mr.  Shirley,  that  great  minister  whom  I honour 
much  in  the  Lord,  had  said  he  would  oppose  through  the  world  the 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1771- 


184 


doctrine  of  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  I am  bound  in  con- 
science to  maintain  among  all  professors,  especially  in  the  College. 
From  these  different  views  of  things,  I saw  difficulties  would  perpetually 
arise  to  her  ladyship,  the  College,  and  myself. 

‘‘  I was  also  grieved  that  when  he  tried  his  well-meant  zeal  (though 
it  was  not,  in  my  judgment,  zeal  according  to  knowledge)  to  explode 
the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  laugh  it  out  of  the  College,  after 
having  dressed  it  in  a fool’s  coat  and  called  it  Perfection,  most  of  the 
students  had  tamely  allowed  him  that  Joel’s  prophecy  was  entirely  ful- 
filled upon  the  hundred  and  twenty  disciples  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
that  believers  are  to  grow  in  grace  by  imperceptible  dews,  and  that 
we  can  do  very  well  without  a remarkable  shower  of  grace  and  Divine 
effusion  of  power,  opening  in  us  the  well  of  living  water  that  is  to  flow 
to  everlasting  life. 

As  it  appeared  to  me  they  had,  in  a good  degree,  given  up  their 
little  expectation  of  this  Gospel  blessing,  and  renounced  the  grand  point 
which  I apprehended  was  to  be  firmly  maintained  and  vigorously  pursued 
in  the  College,  I did  not  feel  the  same  liberty  with  them  in  prayer,  and 
found  that,  as  matters  were  and  appeared  likely  to  continue,  my  con- 
victions and  desires  would  rather  be  damped  than  cherished  among 
them. 

‘‘Nor,  indeed,  did  I see,  upon  this  new  plan,  any  advantage  this 
College  was  to  have  more  than  the  academy  at  Abergavenny,  itinerancy 
excepted  ; so  that  I feared  many  would  get  into  the  habit  of  preaching 
by  rote,  and  of  talking  of  the  power  without  heartily  waiting  for  it,  which 
made  me  give  up  my  hopes  that  those  who  have  not  gifts  should  ever 
be  useful  preachers,  as  a day  of  Pentecost  and  power  from  on  high  can 
alone  supply  the  want  of  them. 

“My  lady,  likewise,  appeared  to  me  so  excessively  afraid  of  Perfection, 
that  she  seemed  to  take  umbrage  at  a harmless  expression  I had  used 
in  a letter  hastily  written  to  a friend,  ‘ The  fiery  baptism  will  burn 
up  selfy — an  expression  which  I had  caught  from  Mr.  Harris,  who 
frequently  uses  it,  though  no  one  will  accuse  him  of  befriending  Mr. 
Wesley’s  doctrine  of  Perfection.  Whatsoever  he  means  by  it,  I mean 
nothing  but  to  convey  the  idea  of  a power  that  enables  us  to  say,  with  a 
tolerable  degree  of  propriety,  as  St.  Paul,  ‘ I live  not,  but  Christ  lives  in 
me  ; ’ and  I saw  that,  if  I was  faithful  to  my  light,  misapprehensions  of 
the  like  kind,  and  well  or  ill  grounded  fears,  would  perpetually  arise. 

“ But  what  weighed  most  with  me,  next  to  what  passed  in  my  heart, 
the  third  Sunday  in  Lent,  was  the  strong  light  in  which  I saw  the  great 
difficulty  arising  from  the  difference  of  sentiments  between  the  students 
and  myself.  I had  frequently  observed  that,  if  I tried  to  stir  up  those 
wLo  appeared  to  be  carnally  secure,  or  spiritually  asleep  on  their  soft 
doctrinal  pillows,  they  directly  fancied  I aimed  at  robbing  them  of  one 
of  their  jewels,  the  doctrine  of  perseverance,  though  the  Searcher  of 
hearts  knows  I had  not  the  least  thought  about  it.  By  the  same 
stratagem  of  the  enemy,  when  I exhorted  loiterers  to  leave  the  things 
that  are  behind,  and  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  our  high 
calling  in  Christ,  they  imagined  I wanted  to  drive  them  to  the  brink  of 


Age  41.]  Important  Unpublished  Manuscript.  185 


some  horrible  precipice,  or  into  the  jaws  of  some  monster  called  Perfec- 
tion, in  which  notion  they  were  possibly  confirmed  not  only  by  Mr. 
Shirley’s  positive  assertions,  but  by  frequent  hints  thrown  out  by  her 
ladyship  herself  upon  the  danger  of  that  imaginary  bugbear.  Alas  ! 
how  needless  it  is  to  give  charges  against  sinless  Perfection  to  young 
men  who  believe  no  such  thing  is  to  be  attained,  and  who  live  mostly 
under  the  power  of  the  carnal  mind.  What  must  be  the  consequence  if 
grace  does  not  interpose  ? What,  but  a settling  upon  the  lees  of  nature 
and  formality,  and  a singing  of  a soft  requiem  to  the  drowsy  hearts  of 
those  who  are  not  really  alive  to  God  ? What  makes  me  think  so,  is 
the  frequent  opportunities  I have  had  to  observe  that  a word  which  may 
too  indirectly  countenance  sin,  by  the  craft  and  power  of  Satan  and  the 
prevalence  of  natural  corruption,  goes  farther  than  twenty  directly  and 
powerfully  thundered  against  it. 

Again.  The  light  of  most  Calvinists  is  such  that  they  cannot  believe 
a man  knows  anything  of  free  grace  who  does  not  enter  into  all  their 
sentiments.  Of  this,  a moderate  one  gave  me  lately  a particular  instance, 
by  telling  me  point  blank,  I was  in  a damnable  heresy,  and  never  knew 
anything  of  myself  or  of  true  grace,  because  I had  said,  sinners  perish 
for  resisting  and  quenching  the  Spirit  of  grace.  Hence,  I conclude, 
and  not  without  a premise,  that  it  would  be  as  ridiculous  in  me  to  expect 
the  majority  of  students  to  follow  my  directions,  as  it  would  be  to  hope 
that  young  men  who  have  good  eyes  should  follow  a person  whom  they 
believe  almost  if  not  altogether  blind. 

Things  appeared  to  me  in  this  light,  when  the  uneasiness  of  my  lady 
occasioned  by  Mr.  Wesley’s  Minutes  showed  itself.  I admired  her  zeal 
for  the  grand  truths  of  the  Gospel.  Appearances  were  for  her,  and  I 
could  not  excuse  Mr.  Wesley’s  unguarded  expressions,  any  more  than 
my  lady’s  great  warmth  against  them  ; her  ladyship  having  mentioned 
again  and  again  that  they  were  horrible  and  abominable,  and  that  she 
must  burn  against  them,  and  at  last  added,  that,  whosoever  in  the 
College  did  not  fully  and  without  any  evasion  disavow  them  should  not 
stay  in  her  College,  etc.  Accordingly,  an  order  came  for  the  students 
and  masters  to  write  their  sentiments  upon  them.  I thought  I would 
not  lay  that  burden  upon  others  without  touching  it  myself,  and,  following 
the  light  in  which  I could  see  and  trace  Mr.  Wesley’s  doctrines  from  a 
long  acquaintance  with  his  sentiments,  I blamed  the  unguarded  and 
not  sufficiently  explicit  manner  in  which  they  were  worded,  but  approving 
the  doctrines  themselves  as  agreeable  to  what  appears  to  me  the  analogy 
of  faith.  All  the  College,  I suppose,  rose  with  one  voice  against  them, 
which  must  make  me  appear  strangely  heterodox,  if  not  altogether  a 
heretic  worse  than  Mr.  Wesley.  This  consideration,  together  with  my 
lady’s  repeated  declaration  that  every  student  who  did  not  disavow  them 
should  quit  the  College,  gave  me  at  last  courage  to  do  absolutely  what 
I had  done  in  a partial  manner  near  a fortnight  before,  namely,  to  resign 
the  office  of  Principal  of  the  College,  which  I saw  I could  no  longer 
discharge  with  honour,  with  a good  ccnscience,  or  any  probability  of 
success. 


i86 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


“ If  I know  anything  of  my  own  heart,  I can  truly  say,  I have  not 
taken  this  step  from  pique  or  chagrin,  nor  from  any  supposed  unkindness 
in  her  ladyship  or  the  students,  whose  undeserved  regard  and  peculiar 
respect  for  me  have  made  me  feel  the  greatest  reluctance  to  comply 
with  what  I esteem  the  order  of  the  Lord  and  the  explicit  dictate  of  my 
own  conscience,  confirmed  by  the  train  of  circumstances  which  I have 
mentioned. 

My  high  esteem  for  her  ladyship  is  not  at  all  abated.  My  love  to 
the  students,  and  regard  for  the  College  are  the  same.  Nay,  I can 
truly  say,  my  regard  for  them  goads  me  away,  as  I see  nothing  but  a 
scene  of  confusion,  distraction,  and  jealousy  if  I stay.  The  whole  of 
this  affair  appears  to  me  to  be  from  the  Lord,  and  it  is  my  sentiment, 
that,  as  the  College  has  naturally  been  filled  with  Calvinists,  is  provi- 
dentially founded  near  a Calvinist  academy  in  Wales,  a Calvinist  country, 
an  itinerant  ministry  is  to  go  forth  from  it  to  feed  chiefly  the  Church  of 
God  of  that  sentimental  denomination.  In  order  to  this,  a moderate, 
lively  Calvinist  must  superintend,  under  the  noble  foundress,  and,  as  a 
token  that  her  ladyship  is  not  dissatisfied  with  my  conduct,  I humbly 
beg  she  would  give  me  leave  to  recommend  my  successor  to  her. 

‘‘Mr.  Whitefield  is  dead;  some  of  his  forlorn  congregation  have 
already  been  blessed  under  the  ministry  of  the  students  ; who  is  more 
proper  to  head  them  than  he  whom  the  religious  world  begins  to  call 
the  young  Whitefield,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  ? His  remarkable  sufferings 
for  Christ’s  sake,  entitle  him  to  the  honour  of  presiding  over  this  work  ; 
and  I hope  the  Lord  will  make  him  willing  to  accept  an  ofhce  for  which 
he  seems  to  be  so  well  fitted  by  his  popularity  and  success. 

“If  it  be  objected  that  he  is  young,  I reply,  he  is  older  than  Mr. 
Whitefield  was  when  he  set  out  upon  his  great  errand,  and  that  the 
warmth  of  his  heart,  the  ripeness  of  his  zeal,  and  the  amazing  steadiness 
of  his  conduct  for  years,  under  the  greatest  difficulty  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  together  with  the  many  seals  God  has  already  given  to  His 
ministry  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  ought  greatly  to  turn  the  scale 
in  his  favour.  And,  indeed,  what  is  an  old  Saul  to  a young  David  ? 
And  who  deserves  most  the  name  and  honour  of  a father  ? He,  or 
myself?  Without  hesitating,  I answer  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  who  has 
perhaps  begotten  more  children  to  God  in  one  discourse  than  I have  in 
all  my  poor  labour  these  fourteen  years.” 

This  long  document  is  endorsed  “ Letter  to  Lady 
Huntingdon.’'  It  would  be  easy  to  make  it  the  text  for 
a long  sermon  ; but  want  of  space  forbids  the  attempt  to 
do  this.  Besides,  intelligent  readers  are  quite  competent  to 
form  just  opinions  respecting  it.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  is 
of  high  importance,  as  containing,  by  far,  the  fullest  account 
ever  published  of  the  reasons  why  Fletcher  took  a step 
which  led  to  great  events  he  never  contemplated.  Had 


Age  41.] 


The  Storm  Breaking. 


187 


he  continued  to  be  the  Superintendent  of  the  Trevecca 
College^  it  is  probable  that  the  Calvinian  controversy 
would  not  have  grown  to  such  wide  dimensions.  That, 
however,  is  not  a proof  of  imprudence  on  Fletcher’s  part ; 
for,  as  every  one  who  knows  the  history  of  that  contro- 
versy is  well  aware,  it  was  impossible  for  the  great 
religious  movement  of  the  last  century  to  proceed  without 
the  doctrines  in  Wesley’s  Minutes  being  thoroughly  ex- 
amined, discussed,  and  settled. 

Wesley  preached  his  sermon  on  the  death  of  Whitefield 
on  November  18,  1770.,  Six  weeks  afterwards,  it  was  re- 
spectfully attacked  in  the  January  number  of  the  Calvinists’ 
periodical,  the  Gospel  Magazine.  Two  months  later,  the 
same  magazine  made  a furious  assault  on  Walter  Sellon’s 
Defence  of  God’s  Sovereignty,”  stigmatizing  it  as  ‘‘  A mite 
of  reprobate  silver,  cast  into  the  Foundery^  and  coming  out 
thence,  bearing  the  impress  of  that  pride,  self-righteousness, 
and  self-sufficiency,  natural  to  men  in  their  fallen  unrenewed 
state.”  This  performance,”  continues  the  reviewer,  is  ex- 
tolled to  the  very  skies  by  the  Arminians.  It  is  calculated 
for  their  meridian,  and  well  establishes  the  haughty  system 
of  their  own  works  and  faithfulness,  in  opposition  to  the 
grace  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  faithfulness  of  a covenant  God, 
in  the  finished  salvation  of  sinners  by  Jesus  Christ.” 

In  May,  the  same  periodical  printed  Wesley’s  Minutes,” 
and  branded  them  as  ‘‘  the  very  doctrines  of  Popery,  yea,  of 
Popery  unmasked.”  The  number  for  the  month  of  June 
contained  an  article  of  twelve  pages,  entitled,  A Comment 
or  Paraphrase  on  the  Extract  from  the  Minutes  cf  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Wesley,  etc.”  The  temper  and  the  unfairness  of  the 
article  may  be  judged  by  the  paraphrase  on  the  first 
Minute,  “ Take  heed  to  your  doctrined  That  is,  remarks  the 
commentator, — 

Beware,  in  your  preaching,  of  ascribing  the  whole  and  sole  glory 
of  salvation,  from  first  to  last,  to  the  free  unmerited  grace  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus.  Be  cautious  how  you  sink  man  below  his  dignity,  rob 
him  of  his  excellency,  strip  him  of  the  power  of  His  free-will  and  abilities 
to  perform  his  part  in  the  work  of  salvation,  and  so  deprive  him  of  all 
trust  in  himself,  hope  from  himself,  and  boasting  of  himself ; for  hence 
will  be  an  end  of  self-seeking,  self-righteousness,  and  self-soothing. 
Then  would  he  sink  into  self-despair.  Take  heed  to  this.'^ 


Wesky  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


188 


Meanwhile,  Fletcher  wrote  to  Wesley  as  follows  : — 

“Madeley,  June  24,  1771.^ 

Dear  Sir, — When  I left  Wales,  where  I had  stood  in  the  gap  for 
peace,  I thought  my  poor  endeavours  were  not  altogether  vain.  Lady 
Huntingdon  said  she  would  write  civilly  to  you,  and  desire  you  to  explain 
yourself  about  your  ‘ Minutes.^  I suppose  you  have  not  heard  from  her, 
for  she  wrote  me  word,  since  then,  that  she  believed  she  must  not 
meddle  in  the  affair.  At  least,  that  is  what  I made  of  her  letter.  Upon 
receiving  yours  from  Chester,  I cut  off  that  part  of  it  where  you  ex- 
pressed your  belief  of  what  is  eminently  called  by  us  the  doctrine  of 
free  grace,  and  sent  it  to  the  College,  with  a desire  it  might  be  sent 
to  Lady  Huntingdon.  She  has  returned  it  to  me,  with  a letter,  in  which 
she  expresses  the  greatest  disapprobation  of  it.  The  purport  of  her 
letter  is,  to  charge  you  with  tergiversation,  and  me  with  being  the  dupe 
of  your  impositions.  She  has  also  written  in  stronger  terms  to  her 
College. 

Things  I hoped  would  have  remained  there  ; but  how  am  I surprised 
and  grieved  to  see  zeal  borrowing  the  horn  of  discord,  and  sounding  an 
alarm  throughout  the  religious  world  against  }^ou.  Mr.  Hatton  called 
upon  me  last  night,  and  showed  me  a printed  circular,  which,  I suppose, 
is,  or  will  be,  sent  to  the  serious  clergy  and  laity  throughout  the  land. 
I have  received  none,  as  I have  lost,  I suppose,  my  reputation  of  being 
a ' real  Protestant t by  what  I wrote  upon  your  ' Minutes  ' in  Wales. 

This  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  printed  letter — 

‘ Sir, — ^Whereas  Mr.  Wesley’s  Conference  is  to  be  held  at  Bristol, 
on  Tuesday,  the  6th  of  August  next,  it  is  proposed  by  Lady  Huntingdon 
and  many  other  Christian  friends  (real  Protestants),  to  have  a meeting 
at  Bristol  at  the  same  time,  of  such  principal  persons,  both  clergy  and 
laity,  who  disapprove  of  the  underwritten  ‘ Minutes  ; ’ and,  as  the  same 
are  thought  injurious  to  the  very  fundamenta I ^rmci^les  of  Christianity, 
it  is  further  proposed  that  they  go  in  a body  to  the  ,said  Conference,  and 
insist  upon  a formal  recantation  of  the  said  Minutes  ; and,  in  case  of 
a refusal,  that  they  sign  and  publish  their  protest  against  them.  Your 
presence.  Sir,  on  this  occasion,  is  particularly  requested ; but,  if  it 
should  not  suit  your  convenience  to  be  there,  it  is  desired  that  you  will 
transmit  your  sentiments  on  the  subject  to  such  persons  as  you  think 
proper  to  produce  them.  It  is  submitted  to  you,  whether  it  would  not 
be  right,  in  the  opposition  to  be  made  to  such  a dreadful  heresy^  to 
recommend  it  to  as  many  of  your  Christian  friends,  as  well  of  the 
dissenters  as  of  the  Established  Church,  as  you  can  prevail  on  to  be 
there,  the  cause  being  of  so  public  a nature. 

'“I  am.  Sir,  your  obedient  servant,— WALTER  SHIRLEY. 

‘ P.S. — Your  answer  is  desired,  directed  to  the  Countess  of  Hunting- 
don ; or  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shirley ; or  John  Lloyd,  Esq.,  in  Bath ; or  Mr. 


' This  letter  is  inserted  in  the  Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  where  it 
was  published  for  the  first  time.  It  is  reproduced  here,  because 
Fletcher’s  life  would  not  be  complete  without  it.  —L.  T. 


Age  41.  ] 


Shirley* s Circular, 


189 


James  Ireland,  merchant,  Bristol ; or  to  Thomas  Powis,  Esq.,  at  Ber- 
wick, near  Shrewsbury;  or  to  Richard  Hill,  Esq.,  at  Hawkstone,  near 
Whitchurch,  Shropshire.  Lodgings  will  be  provided.  Inquire  at  Mr. 
Ireland’s,  Bristol.’ 

I think  it  my  duty,  dear  Sir,  to  give  you  the  earliest  intelligence  of 
this  bold  onset,  and  to  assure  you  that,  upon  the  evangelical  principles 
mentioned  in  your  last  letter  to  me,  I,  for  one,  shall  be  glad  to  stand 
by  you  and  your  doctrine  to  the  last,  hoping  that  you  will  gladly  remove 
stumbling-blocks  out  of  the  way  of  the  weak,  and  alter  such  expressions 
as  may  create  prejudice  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  inclined  to 
admit  it. 

I write  to  Mr.  Shirley  to  expostulate  with  him,  and  to  request  him 
to  call  in  his  circular  letter.  He  is  the  last  man  that  should  attack 
you.  His  sermons  contain  propositions  much  more  heretical  and  anti- 
Calvinistical  than  your  'Minutes.’  If  my  letters  have  not  the  desired 
effect,  I shall  probably,  if  you  approve  of  them  and  correct  them,  make 
them  public  for  your  justification. 

"I  find  Mr.  Ireland  is  to  write  to  make  you  tamely  recant  without 
measuring  swords,  or  breaking  a pike  with  our  real  Protestants . I 
wrote  to  him  also. 

“ I am,  dear  Sir,  your  unworthy  servant  in  the  Gospel, 

"John  Fletcher. 

" To  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley, 

"At  his  Preaching  House  in  Dublin, 

"Ireland.” 

Lady  Huntingdon  did  not  write  to  Wesley,  but  he  wrote 
a long  and  faithful  letter  to  her,  dated  June  19,  1771,  in 
which  he  insisted  that  the  doctrines  he  preached  now  were 
the  same  as  he  had  preached  for  above  thirty  years."" 

Shirley  did  not  ""  call  in  his  circular  letter.”  It  would 
have  been  more  to  the  honour  of  himself  and  his  friends 
had  he  done  so  ; for,  when  Wesley’s  Conference  assembled 
on  August  6,  the  response  to  it  was  ridiculous.  Of  all  “ the 
serious  clergy  and  laity  throughout  the  land,”  only  Shirley 
himself,  and  the  Rev.  Cradock  Glascott,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Owen,  ministers  officiating  in  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon’s 
chapels,  together  with  Messrs.  Lloyd,  Ireland,  and  Winter, 
and  two  students  (!)  from  Trevecca  College  attended.  After 
what  had  taken  place,  Wesley,  without  arrogance,  might 
have  disdained  these  insignificant  self-elected  deputies  ; but 
he  graciously  allowed  them  to  enter  his  Conference.  First 


"Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  vol.  iii.,  p.  93. 


190 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1771. 


of  all,  Wesley  prayed  ; then  Shirley  asked  if  the  letters  ^ ot 
himself  and  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  had  been  read  to 
the  Conference ; and,  being  answered  in  the  negative,  he 
asked  leave  to  read  them  himself,  which  was  granted.  A 
long  conversation  followed,  and  then  Shirley  produced  a 
written  declaration  which  he  wished  the  Conference  to  sign. 
Wesley  examined  it,  and  made  some  alterations,  which 
Shirley  says  were  “not  very  material;’’  and  then  Wesley 
and  fifty-three  of  his  itinerant  preachers  appended  to  it  their 
signatures.  The  declaration  was  as  follows  : — 

^‘Whereas  the  doctrinal  points  in  the  Minutes  of  a Conference,  held 
in  London,  August  7,  1770,  have  been  understood  to  favour  justification 
by  works;  now  the  Rev.  John  Wesley  and  others  assembled  in  Con- 
ference, do  declare  that  we  had  no  such  meaning,  and  that  we  abhor 
the  doctrine  of  Justification  by  Works  as  a most  perilous  and  abomin- 
able doctrine  : and,  as  the  said  Minutes  are  not  sufficiently  guarded  in 
the  way  they  are  expressed,  we  hereby  solemnly  declare,  in  the  sight 
of  God,  that  we  have  no  trust  or  confidence  but  in  the  alone  merits  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  for  Justification  or  Salvation,  either 
in  life,  death,  or  the  day  of  judgment : and,  though  no  one  is  a real 
Christian  believer,  (and  consequently  cannot  be  saved)  who  doth  not 
good  works,  where  there  is  time  and  opportunity,  yet  our  works  have  no 
part  in  meriting  or  purchasing  our  salvation  from  first  to  last,  either  in 
whole  or  in  part.” 

This  declaration  being  signed  by  Wesley  and  all  the 
Itinerant  Preachers  present  (except  Thomas  Olivers),  Shirley 
was  required  “ to  make  some  public  acknowledgment  that 
he  had  mistaken  the  meaning  of  the  ‘Minutes.’”  At  first 
he  hesitated,  but,  “ a few  days  afterwards,  sent  Wesley  the 
following  message,  with  which,”  says  Shirley,  “he  was  very 
well  pleased  ” : — 

Mr.  Shirley’s  Christian  respects  wait  on  Mr.  Wesley.  The  declara- 
tion agreed  to  in  Conference  August  8,  1771,  has  convinced  Mr.  Shirley 
he  had  mistaken  the  meaning  of  the  doctrinal  points  in  the  Minutes  of 


^ The  letter  of  the  Countess,  dated  August  2,  1771,”  in  substance 
was  an  apology  for  the  apparently  presumptuous  way  in  which  she  and 
her  friends  had  proposed  to  invade  Wesley’s  Conference  ; accompanied 
with  an  excuse  founded  on  the  fact  that  they  regarded  Wesley’s 
“Minutes,”  of  1770,  as  “repugnant  to  Scripture,  the  whole  plan  of 
man’s  salvation  under  the  new  covenant  of  grace,  and  also  to  the  clear 
meaning  of  our  Established  Church,  as  well  as  to  that  of  all  other 
Protestant  Churches.”  Shirley’s  letter  was  to  the  same  effect.  (See 
Shirley’s  “ Narrative  of  the  Principal  Circumstances  relative  to  the  Rev 
Mr.  Wesley’s  late  Conference,  held  in  Bristol,  August  6,  1771.”) 


GE4I.]  Fletcher'' s First  Check  to  Antmomianismy  igi 


the  Conference,  held  in  London  August  7,  1770 ; and  he  hereby  wishes 
to  testify  the  full  satisfaction  he  has  in  the  said  declaration,  and  his 
hearty  concurrence  and  agreement  with  the  same.” 

It  might  have  been  thought  that  here  the  fracas  would 
have  ended  ; and  so,  perhaps,  it  would,  had  it  not  been  for 
an  incident  which  must  now  be  mentioned. 

Fletcher  had  already  written  his  First  Check  to  Anti- 
nomianism.’’  It  was  finished  on  July  29,^  and  Wesley 
immediately  put  it  into  the  hands  of  his  printer,  William 
Pine,  of  Bristol,  to  be  printed  and  published;  and  the  manu- 
script was  being  set  up  in  type  at  the  very  time  that  Shirley 
and  his  friends  were  at  Wesley’s  Conference.  The  Con- 
ference began  on  Tuesday,  August  6.  Wesley  writes  : — 

''We  had  more  preachers  than  usual  at  the  Conference,  in  con- 
sequence of  Mr.  Shirley’s  circular  letter.  At  ten  on  Thursday  morning, 
he  came  with  nine  or  ten  of  his  friends.  We  conversed  freely  for  about 
two  hours,  and  I believe  they  were  satisfied  that  we  were  not  so  ' dreadful 
heretics  ’ as  they  imagined,  but  were  tolerably  sound  in  the  faith.”  ^ 

The  next  day,  Friday,  August  9,  Shirley  was  informed 
that  Fletcher’s  manuscript  was  being  printed.  He  and  his 
friends  appealed  to  Wesley  to  stop  the  press.  Mr.  Ireland, 
in  particular,  who  had  already  written  to  Fletcher  an  account 
of  the  preceding  day’s  amicable  proceedings,  entreated  Wesley 
to  wait  till  he  (Ireland)  could  receive  an  answer  to  his  letter. 
He  ventured  to  assure  Wesley  that  if  Fletcher  were  upon  the 
spot  he  would  suppress  the  publication  ; and  he  himself 
offered  to  defray  all  the  expense  that  had  been  incurred. 
Wesley  answered,  I will  consider  it ; ” and,  at  the  same 
time,  he  told  his  visitors  that  ‘‘  he  had  corrected  all  the  tart 
expressions  in  ” the  manuscript.^ 


^ It  is  a notable  fact  that  Wesley  had  spent  the  three  previous  days 
with  Fletcher.  Hence  the  following  from  Wesley’s  Journal : — 

" 1771.  Friday^  July  26.  I went  on  to  Shrewsbury,  where  Mr.  Fletcher 
met  me. — Sunday ^ 28.  I preached  at  Madeley,  morning  and  afternoon. 
The  church  would  not  near  contain  the  congregation  ; but  the  window 
near  the  pulpit  being  open,  those  without  could  hear  as  well  as  those 
■^\Od\x\— Monday , 29.  I went  on  to  Worcester.” 

Probably  Wesley  took  Fletcher’s  manuscript  away  with  him. 

* Wesley’s  Journal. 

^ Shirley’s  "Narrative.” 


IQ2 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771- 


Wesley  spent  Saturday  and  Sunday  in  Bristol  ; and  then, 
on  Monday,  August  1 2,  he  ‘‘  set  out  for  Wales/'  Three 
days  afterwards,  Mr.  Ireland  received  a letter  from  Fletcher, 
who  wrote  : — 

feel  for  poor  dear  Mr.  Shirley,  whom  I have  (considering  the 
present  circumstances)  treated  too  severely  in  my  ‘ Vindication  of  the 
Minutes.’  My  dear  Sir,  what  must  be  done  ? I am  ready  to  defray, 
by  selling  to  my  last  shirt,  the  expense  of  the  printing  of  my  Vindication, 
and  suppress  it.  Direct  me,  dear  Sir.  Consult  with  Mr.  Shirley  and 
Mr.  Wesley  about  the  matter.  Be  persuaded  I am  ready  to  do  every- 
thing that  will  be  brotherly  in  this  unhappy  affair.”  ^ 

Wesley  having  departed  from  Bristol,  Mr.  Ireland  at  once 
went  to  Mr. Pine,  the  printer,  and  showed  him  Fletcher’s  letter; 
and  the  same  evening  Mr.  Pine  communicated  its  contents 
to  the  Bristol  preachers.  The  next  morning,  Friday,  August  1 6, 
Mr.  Ireland  sent  to  the  preachers  a copy  of  Fletcher’s  letter  ; 
and,  in  a letter  from  himself,  told  them  that  Fletcher  “supposed 
the  book  was  out ; but,  even  in  that  case,  he  wished  it  to 
be  suppressed.”  Mr.  Ireland  entreated  them  to  defer  the 
publication  till  they  had  further  authority  from  Fletcher 
and  Wesley,  “ and  engaged  to  be  accountable  for  every 
consequence.”  ^ 

While  Mr.  Ireland  was  making  these  strenuous  efforts  to 
suppress  the  publication,  Wesley  wrote  to  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  as  follows  : — 

1771.  August  14. — When  I received  your  ladyship’s  letter  of  the 
2nd  inst.,  I immediately  saw  that  it  required  an  answer,  only  I waited 
till  the  hurry  of  Conference  was  over,  that  I might  do  nothing  rashly. 

I know  your  ladyship  would  not  servilely  ‘ deny  the  truth  ; ’ neither 
would  I ; especially  that  great  truth,  justification  by  faith,  for  which  I 
have  given  up  all  my  worldly  hopes,  my  friends,  my  reputation  ; yea, 
for  which  I have  so  often  hazarded  my  life,  and  by  the  grace  of  God 
will  do  again.  The  principles  established  in  the  ^ Minutes  ’ I apprehend 
to  be  no  way  contrary  to  this  ; or  to  that  faith  which  was  once  delivered 
to  the  saints.  I believe  whoever  calmly  considers  Mr.  Fletcher’s  letters 
will  be  convinced  of  this.  I fear,  therefore,  ' zeal  against  those  principles  ’ 
is  no  less  than  zeal  against  the  truth,  and  against  the  honotir  of  our  Lord. 
The  preservation  of  His  honour  appears  so  sacred  to  me,  and  has  done 
for  above  these  forty  years,  that  I have  counted,  and  do  count,  all  things 


Shirley’s  ‘‘Narrative.” 


Ibid. 


Age  41.] 


Shirley' s “ Narrative." 


193 


loss  in  comparison  of  it.  But  till  Mr.  Fletcher’s  printed  letters  are 
answered,  I must  think  everything  spoken  against  those  ‘ Minutes  ’ is 
totally  destructive  of  His  honour,  and  a palpable  afPront  to  Him  both 
as  our  Prophet  and  Priest,  but  more  especially  as  our  King.  Those 
letters,  therefore,  which  could  not  be  suppressed  without  betraying  the 
honour  of  our  Lord,  largely  prove  that  the  ^ Minutes  ’ lay  no  other 
foundation  than  that  which  is  laid  in  Scripture,  and  which  I have  been 
laying,  and  teaching  others  to  lay,  for  between  thirty  and  forty  years. 
Indeed,  it  would  be  amazing  that  God  should  at  this  day  prosper  my 
labours,  as  much  if  not  more  than  ever,  by  convincing  as  well  as  con- 
verting sinners,  if  I was  ^ establishing  another  foundatioii,  re^pugnan^ 
to  the  whole  plan  of  man"  s salvation  under  the  covenant  of  grace,  as 
well  as  the  clear  meaning  of  our  Established  Church  and  all  other 
Protestant  Churchesl’  This  is  a charge  indeed ! But  I plead,  not 
guilty  ; and  till  it  is  proved  upon  me,  I must  subscribe  myself,  my  dear 
lady,  your  ladyship’s  affectionate  but  much  injured  servant, 

John  Wesley.”  ^ 

Thus,  by  Wesley's  firmness,  Fletcher's  manuscript,  without 
any  delay,  was  printed  and  published.  Its  title  was,  ‘‘  A 
Vindication  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley's  Last  Minutes  : Occa- 
sioned by  a circular  printed  Letter,  inviting  principal  Persons, 
both  Clergy  and  Laity,  as  well  of  the  Dissenters  as  of  the 
Established  Church,  who  disapprove  of  those  Minutes,  to 
oppose  them  in  a Body,  as  a dreadful  Heresy  : And  designed 
to  remove  Prejudice,  check  Rashness,  promote  Forbearance, 
defend  the  Character  of  an  eminent  Minister  of  Christ,  and 
prevent  some  important  Scriptural  Truths  from  being  hastily 
branded  as  heretical.  In  Five  Letters,  to  the  Hon  and 
Rev.  Author  of  the  Circular  Letter.  By  a Lover  of  Quietness 
and  Liberty  of  Conscience.  Bristol : Printed  by  W.  Pine, 
in  Wine  Street,  1771."  12  mo.,  98  pp. 

The  publication  roused  again  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter 
Shirley,  who  immediately  prepared  and  published  A 
Narrative  of  the  principal  Circumstances  relative  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Wesley’s  late  Conference,  held  in  Bristol,  August  the  6th, 
1771,  at  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shirley,  and  others,  his  Friends, 
were  present.  With  a Declaration  then  agreed  to  by  Mr. 
Wesley,  and  Fifty-three  of  the  Preachers  in  Connection  with 
him.  In  a Letter  to  a Friend.  By  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shirley. 
Bath  : 1771/'  12 mo.,  24  pp. 


] Whitehead’s  ” Life  of  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  350. 

13 


194 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


Upon  the  whole,  Mr.  Shirley's  Narrative  " was  truthful, 
fair,  and  respectful.  It  is  dated  “Bath,  September  12,  1771/' 
He  apprised  Fletcher  of  its  contents,  and  of  his  intention  to 
publish  it  ; and  Fletcher,  in  reply,  wrote  the  following  letter, 
which  completes  the  history  of  the  commencement  of  the 
great  Calvinistical  controversy  : — 

Madeley,  September  ii,  1771. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — It  is  extremely  proper,  nay,  it  is  highly 
necessary,  that  the  public  should  be  informed  how  much  like  a minister 
of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  a meek,  humble,  loving  brother  in  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  you  behaved  at  the  Conference.  Had  I been  there, 
I would  gladly  have  taken  upon  me  to  proclaim  these  tidings  of  joy 
to  the  lovers  of  Zion’s  peace.  Your  conduct  at  that  time  of  love  is 
certainly  the  best  excuse  for  the  hasty  step  you  had  taken ; as  my  desire 
of  stopping  my  ‘ Vindication,^  upon  hearing  of  it,  is  the  best  apology  I 
can  make  for  my  severity  to  you. 

‘‘I  am  not  averse  at  all.  Sir,  to  your  publishing  the  passages  you 
mention  out  of  my  letters  to  Mr.  Ireland.  They  show  my  peculiar  love 
and  respect  for  you,  which  I shall  at  all  times  think  an  honour ; and, 
at  this  juncture,  shall  feel  a peculiar  pleasure  to  see  proclaimed  to  the 
world.  They  apologize  for  my  calling  myself  ‘ a lover  of  quietness,^ 
when  I unfortunately  prove  a son  of  contention  ; and  they  demonstrate 
that  I am  not  altogether  void  of  the  fear  that  becomes  an  awkward, 
inexperienced  surgeon,  when  he  ventures  to  open  a vein  in  the  arm  of 
a person  for  whom  he  has  the  highest  regard.  How  natural  is  it  for  him 
to  tremble,  lest  by  missing  the  intended  vein,  and  pricking  an  unseen 
artery,  he  should  have  done  irreparable  mischief  instead  of  an  useful 
operation  ! 

^‘But  while  you  do  me  the  kindness  of  publishing  those  passages, 
permit  me.  Sir,  to  do  Mr.  Wesley  the  justice  of  informing  him,  I had 
also  written  to  Mr.  Ireland,  that,  ‘ whether  my  Letters  were  suppressed 
or  not,  the  ‘ Minutes  ’ must  be  vindicated, — that  Mr.  Wesley  owed  it 
to  the  Church,  to  the  real  Protestants,  to  all  his  Societies,  and  to  his 
own  aspersed  character,— and  that,  after  all,  the  controversy  did  not 
seem  to  me  to  be  so  much  whether  the  ^ Minutes^  should  stand,  as 
whether  the  Antinomian  Gospel  of  Dr.  Crisp  ^ should  prevail  over  the 
practical  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

I must  also.  Sir,  beg  leave  to  let  my  vindicated  friend  know,  that. 


* That  there  might  be  no  misunderstanding  between  them,  Fletcher, 
on  the  same  day,  sent  Wesley  ‘‘the  substance,  and  almost  the  very 
words,”  of  this  letter  to  Shirley. 

2 The  Rev.  Tobias  Crisp,  D.D.,  a divine  of  the  Church  of  England, 
born  in  London  in  1600,  and  who  died  in  1643.  He  was  educated  at 
Eton,  thence  he  removed  to  Cambridge,  and  afterwards  to  Oriel  College, 
Oxford.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  he  was  appointed  Rector  of  Brink- 
worth,  in  Wiltshire.  Early  in  life,  he  was  a favourer  of  the  doctrines  of 


Age  41.] 


Fletcher^ s Letter  to  Shirley. 


195 


in  the  very  letter  where  I so  earnestly  entreated  Mr.  Ireland  to  stop  the 
publication  of  my  Letters  to  you,  and  offered  to  take  the  whole  expense 
of  the  impression  upon  myself,  though  I should  be  obliged  to  sell  my 
last  shirt  to  defray  it,  I added  that,  ‘ If  they  were  published,  I must  look 
upon  it  as  a necessary  evil,  or  misfortune  ' Which  of  the  two  words  I 
used  I do  not  justly  recollect : a misfortune  for  you  and  me,  who  must 
appear  inconsistent  to  the  world ; — ^you.  Sir,  with  your  Sermons,^  and  I with 
my  Title-page  ; and  nevertheless  necessary  to  vindicate  misrepresented 
truth,  defend  an  eminent  minister  of  Christ,  and  stem  the  torrent  of 
Antinomianism. 

''  It  may  not  be  improper,  also,  to  observe  to  you.  Sir,  that  when  I 
presented  Mr.  Wesley  with  my  ^ Vindication,’  I begged  he  would  correct 
it,  and  take  away  whatever  might  be  unkind  or  too  sharp  : urging  that 
though  I meant  no  unkindness,  I was  not  a proper  judge  of  what  I had 
written  under  peculiarly  delicate  and  trying  circumstances,,  as  well  as 
in  a great  hurry ; and  did  not,  therefore,  dare  to  trust  either  my  pen, 
my  head,  or  my  heart.  He  was  no  sooner  gone”  (from  Bristol)  “than  I 
sent  a letter  after  him  to  repeat  and  urge  the  same  request ; and  he 
wrote  me  word,  that  he  had  'expunged  every  tart  expression.’  If  he 
has  (for  I have  not  yet  seen  what  alterations  his  friendly  pen  has 
made)  I am  reconciled  to  the  publication  ; and  that  he  has,  I have 
reason  to  hope  from  the  letters  of  two  judicious  London  friends,  who 
calmed  my  fears,  lest  I should  have  treated  you  with  unkindness. 

“One  of  them  says,  ‘ I reverence  Mr.  Shirley  for  his  candid  acknow- 
ledgment of  his  hastiness  in  judging.  I commend  the  Calvinists  at 
the  Conference  for  their  justice  to  Mr.  Wesley,  and  their  acquiescence 
in  the  Declaration  of  the  Preachers  in  connexion  with  him.  But  is 
that  Declaration,  however  dispersed,  a remedy  adequate  to  the  evil 
done,  not  only  to  Mr.  Wesley,  but  to  the  cause  and  wark  of  God? 
Several  Calvinists,  in  eagerness  of  malice,  had  dispersed  their  calumnies 
through  the  three  kingdoms.  A truly  excellent  person  herself,  ^ in 
her  mistaken  zeal,  had  represented  him  as  a y)apist  unmasked^  a 
heretic,  ait  apostate.  A clergyman  of  the  first  reputation  informs  me 
a Poem  on  his  A^ostacy  is  just  coming  out.^  Letters  have  been  sent  to 
every  serious  Churchman  and  Dissenter  through  the  land,  together 

Arminianism  ; afterwards,  he  became  the  champion  of  Antinomianism. 
His  sermons,  in  three  volumes,  were  printed  after  his  death.  It  is  said 
that,  though  the  tenets  he  embraced  seem  to  be  a plea  for  licentious* * 
ness,  he  himself  was  remarkable  for  the  purity  and  modesty  of  his 
manners. 

^ A few  years  ago,  Shirley  had  published  “Twelve  Sermons,  preached 
on  several  occasions,”  i2mo.,  189  pp. 

^ Lady  Huntingdon. 

* This  was  published  in  the  Gospel  Magazine,  in  the  same  month  as 
Wesley’s  Conference  was  held.  It  was  signed  “Cleon,”  and  dated 
“London,  June  17,  1771.’^  Speaking  of  Wesley,  “Cleon”  says, — 

“ Pride  prompts  him  on,  and  Satan  now  has  gained 
A conquest  o’er  perverted  truth  retained  ; 

At  best  perverted,  glaring  now  appears. 

The  pride  of  Rome,  the  lie  of  num’rous  years.” 


Wes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


196 


with  the  Gospel  Magazine.  Great  are  the  shoutings,  ''And  now  that 
he  lieth  let  him  rise  no  morel*'  This  is  all  the  cry.  His  dearest 
friends  and  children  are  staggered,  and  scarce  know  what  to  think. 
You,  in  your  corner,  cannot  conceive  the  mischief  that  has  been  done, 
and  is  still  doing.  But  your  letters,  in  the  hand  of  Providence,  may 
answer  the  good  ends  you  proposed  by  writing  them.  You  have  not 
been  too  severe  to  dear  Mr.  Shirley,  moderate  Calvinists  themselves 
being  judges,  but  very  kind  and  friendly  to  set  a good  mistaken  man 
right,  and  probably  to  preserve  him  from  the  like  rashness  as  long  as  he 
lives.  Be  not  troubled,  therefore,  but  cast  your  care  upon  the  Lord.’ 

My  other  friend  says,  ‘ Considering  what  harm  the  Circular  Letter 
has  done,  and  what  a useless  satisfaction  Mr.  Shirley  has  given  by  his 
vague  acknowledgment,  it  is  no  more  than  just  and  equitable  that 
your  Letters  should  be  published.’ 

‘‘Now,  Sir,  as  I never  saw  that  acknowledgment ^ nor  the  softening 
corrections  made  by  Mr.  Wesley  in  my  ‘ Vindication  ; ’ as  I was  not 
informed  of  some  of  the  above-mentioned  particulars  when  I was  so 
eager  to  prevent  the  publication  of  my  Letters ; and  as  I have  reason 
to  think  that,  through  the  desire  of  an  immediate  peace,  the  festering 
wound  was  rather  skinned  over  than  probed  to  the  bottom, — all  I can 
say  about  this  publication  is,  what  I wrote  to  our  common  friend, 
namely,  that  ‘ I must  look  upon  it  as  a necessary  evil.' 

“I  am  glad.  Sir,  you  do  not  direct  your  letter  to  Mr.  Olivers,^  who 
was  so  busy  in  publishing  my  ‘ Vindication  ; ’ for,  by  a letter  I have  just 
received  from  Bristol,  I am  informed  he  did  not  hear  how  desirous  I 
was  to  call  it  in,  till  he  had  actually  given  out,  before  a whole  con- 
gregation, it  would  be  sold.  Besides,  he  would  have  pleaded  with 
smartness  that  he  never  approved  of  a patched-up  peace, — that  he 
bore  his  testimony  against  it  at  the  time  it  was  made, — and  that  he  had 
a personal  right  to  produce  my  arguments,  since  both  parties  refused 
to  hear  his  at  the  Conference. 

“ If  your  Letter  is  friendly.  Sir,  and  you  print  it  in  the  same  size  as 
my  ‘ Vindication,’  I shall  gladly  buy  £io  worth  of  the  copies,  and  order 
them  to  be  stitched  with  my  ‘ Vindication,’  and  given  gratis  to  the  pur- 
chasers of  it ; as  well  to  do  you  justice,  as  to  convince  the  world  that 
we  make  a loving  war ; and  also  to  demonstrate  how  much  I regard 
your  respectable  character,  and  honour  your  dear  person.  Mr.  Wesley’s 
heart  is,  I am  persuaded,  too  full  of  brotherly  love  to  deny  me  the 
pleasure  of  thus  showing  you  how  sincerely  I am.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 
your  obedient  servant, 

“John  Fletcher.” 

The  reader  has  now  as  full  an  account  as  can  be  given  of 
the  way  in  which  the  long  and  angry  war  between  Wesleyan 
Methodism  and  Calvinian  Methodism  was  begun.  It  is 


* Thomas  Olivers,  who,  for  several  years,  corrected  proof  sheets  for 
Wesley. 


Age  41.]  Fletcher^ s Vindication  of  Weslef  s Minutes.  1 97 


difficult  to  say,  decidedly,  who  was  to  blame  for  it.  Wesley 
had  a perfect  right — in  fact,  under  existing  circumstances,  he 
was  almost  bound  by  duty — to  publish  his  theological  theses ; 
but  it  was  unfortunate  that,  to  use  the  words  of  himself  and 
his  fifty- three  preachers,  “ they  were  not  sufficie?itly  guarded  in 
the  way  they  were  expressed.” 

The  Countess  of  Huntingdon  and  her  nephew,  the  Hon. 
and  Rev.  Walter  Shirley,  had  a perfect  right  to  take  counsel 
with  their  Calvinian  friends  respecting  Wesley's  ‘‘  Minutes  ; ” 
but  it  was  offensive  arrogance  to  propose  to  go  in  a body 
to  Wesley's  Conference^  and  insist  upon  a formal  recantation 
of  the  said  MinutesP  Wesley  was  under  no  obligation  to 
either  Lady  Huntingdon  or  Walter  Shirley  ; and  their  issuing 
of  the  Circular  Letter ''  was  pure  impertinence,  though,  no 
doubt,  they  thought  it  a Christian  duty. 

Fletcher  had  a perfect  right  to  explain  and  vindicate 
Wesley's  ‘ Minutes,'  and  to  send  Wesley  his  manuscript  to 
be  printed  and  published  ; and  Wesley  had  a perfect  right 
to  avail  himself  of  this  permission. 

Mr.  Ireland  had  a perfect  right  to  entreat  Wesley's  printer 
to  delay  the  publication  till  he  (Ireland)  received  an  answer 
to  the  letter  he  had  sent  to  Fletcher  ; and  Fletcher,  though, 
perhaps,  showing  too  much  flexibility  of  purpose,  displayed 
Christian  kindness  of  the  highest  order  in  his  reply  ; but 
that  reply  arrived  in  Bristol  too  late,  for  Wesley  had  already 
left  for  Wales,  and  Wesley's  editor  had  publicly  announced 
that  the  ''  Vindication  ''  would  be  published.  Besides,  Fletcher 
himself,  within  five  weeks  after  the  time  when  Wesley's  Con- 
ference was  held,  changed  his  opinion,  told  Mr.  Ireland  that 
“ the  ‘ Minutes  ' mitst  be  vindicated,”  and  informed  Shirley 
himself  that  he  was  reconciled  to  the  publication  ” of  his 
manuscript. 

Nothing  more  need  be  said.  Indeed,  all,  in  substance,  is 
said  that  can  be  said  ; and  it  only  remains  to  notice  the 
1 2 mo  pamphlet  of  98  pages,  that  gave  such  huge  offence, 
and  led  to  such  serious  consequences.  Fletcher  presents  : — 

I.  A general  view  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley’s  doctrines. 

‘‘II.  An  account  of  the  commendable  design  of  his  ‘ Minutes.’ 

“III.  A vindication  of  the  propositions  which  they  contain,  by 


198 


Wesky  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


arguments  taken  from  Scripture,  reason,  and  experience ; and  by 
quotations  from  eminent  Calvinist  divines,  who  have  said  the  same 
things  in  different  words.” 

On  the  first  of  these  points,  he  writes  : — 

Mr.  Wesley  is  accused  of  dreadful  heresy ; and  may  not  I,  an  old 
friend  and  acquaintance  of  his,  be  permitted  to  speak  a word  in  his 
favour  ? This  step,  I fear,  will  cost  me  my  reputation  (if  I have  any), 
and  involve  me  in  the  same  condemnation  with  him,  whose  cause, 
together  with  that  of  truth,  I design  to  plead : but  when  humanity 
prompts,  gratitude  calls,  and  friendship  excites ; when  reason  invites, 
justice  demands,  truth  requires,  and  conscience  summons  ; he  does  not 
deserve  the  name  of  a Christian  friend,  who,  for  any  consideration, 
hesitates  to  vindicate  what  he  esteems  truth,  and  to  stand  by  an 
aggrieved  friend,  brother,  and  father. 

I.  For  above  these  sixteen  years,  I have  heard  him  frequently  in 
his  chapels,  and  sometimes  in  my  church ; and  I have  familiarly  con- 
versed and  corresponded  with  him,  and  have  often  perused  his  numerous 
works  in  verse  and  prose ; and  I can  truly  say,  that,  during  all  that 
time,  I have  heard  him,  upon  every  proper  occasion,  steadily  maintain 
the  total  fall  of  man  in  Adam,  and  his  utter  inability  to  recover  himself, 
or  take  one  step  towards  his  recovery,  ‘ without  the  grace  of  God  pre- 
venting him^  that  he  may  have  a good  will,  and  working  with  him 
when  he  has  that  good  will,'' 

'^2.  I must  likewise  testify  that  he  faithfully  points  out  Christ  as  the 
only  way  of  salvation  ; and  strongly  recommends  faith  as  the  only  means 
of  receiving  Him,  and  all  the  benefits  of  His  righteous  life  and  meri- 
torious death ; and  truth  obliges  me  to  declare,  that  he  frequently 
expresses  his  detestation  of  the  errors  of  modern  Pharisees,  who  laugh 
at  original  sin,  set  up  the  power  of  fallen  'man,  cry  down  the  operations 
of  God’s  Spirit,  deny  the  absolute  necessity  of  the  blood  and  righteous- 
ness of  Christ,  and  refuse  Him  the  glory  of  all  the  good  that  may  be 
found  in  Jew  or  Gentile.  You  will  not  without  difficulty  find  in  England, 
and  perhaps  in  all  the  world,  a minister  who  has  borne  more  frequent 
testimonies,  either  from  the  pulpit  or  the  press,  against  those  dangerous 
errors. 

‘^3.  The  next  fundamental  doctrine  of  Christianity  is  that  of  holiness 
of  heart  and  life  ; and  no  one  can  here  accuse  Mr.  Wesley  of  leaning 
to  the  Antinomian  delusion,  which  ^ makes  void  the  law  through'  a 
speculative  and  barren  faith''  : on  the  contrary,  he  appears  to  be 
peculiarly  set  for  the  defence  of  practical  religion ; for,  instead  of 
representing  Christ  as  the  minister  of  sin,  he  sets  Him  forth  as  a complete 
^Saviour  from  sin.’  Not  satisfied  to  preach  holiness  begun,  he  preaches 
finished  holiness,  and  calls  believers  to  such  a degree  of  heart-purifying 
faith,  as  may  enable  them  continually  to  ^triumph  in  Christ,'  as  being 
^ made  to  them  sanctification,'  as  well  as  ^righteousness.'  This  he 
sometimes  calls  ‘ full  sanctification,’  the  state  of  fathers  in  Christ,  or 


Age  41.]  Fletcher* s Vindication  of  Wesley* s Mmutes,  199 


* the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God 'd  sometimes,  a being 
^strengthened^  stablished,  and  settled  ; ’ or  * being  rooted  and  grounded 
in  love : ’ but  most  commonly  he  calls  it,  ' Christian  Perfection ; ’ a 
word  which,  though  used  by  the  Apostles  in  the  same  sense,  cannot  be 
used  by  him  without  raising  the  pity  or  indignation  of  one  half  of  the 
religious  world : some  make  it  the  subject  of  their  pious  sneers  and 
godly  lampoons ; while  others  tell  you  roundly  they  * abhor  it  above 
everything  in  the  creation.’ 

‘^4.  But  this  is  not  all:  he  holds  also  general  redemption,  and  its 
necessary  consequences,  which  some  account  ^dreadful  heresies  I He 
asserts,  with  St.  Paul,  that  ^ Christy  by  the  grace  of  God^  tasted  death 
for  every  man  p and  this  grace  he  calls  ^freei  as  extending  itself 
freely  to  all.  Nor  can  he  help  expressing  his  surprise  at  those  pious 
ministers,  who  maintain  that  the  Saviour  keeps  His  grace,  as  they 
suppose  He  kept  His  blood,  from  the  greatest  part  of  mankind,  and  yet 
engross  to  themselves  the  title  of  freachers  of  free  grace.'  ” 

''5.  As  a consequence  of  the  doctrine  of  general  redemption,  Mr. 
Wesley  lays  down  two  axioms,  of  which  he  never  loses  sight  in  his 
preaching.  The  first  is,  that  ^ All  our  salvation  is  of  God  in  Christ' 
and  therefore  of  grace : all  opportunities,  invitations,  inclination,  and 
power  to  believe  being  bestowed  upon  us  of  mere  grace, — grace  most 
absolutely  free.  But  he  proceeds  farther;  for,  secondly,  he  asserts, 
with  equal  confidence,  that,  according  to  the  Gospel  dispensation,  ^ All 
our  damnation  is  of  ourselves  i by  our  obstinate  unbelief  and  avoidable 
unfaithfulness.  He  is  persuaded  the  most  complete  system  of  divinity 
is  that  in  which  neither  of  those  two  axioms  is  superseded  : it  is  bold 
and  unscriptural  to  set  up  the  one  at  the  expense  of  the  other.” 

These  extracts  from  Fletcher's  first  letter  are  important, 
as  showing  what  Fletcher  conceived  to  be  Wesley’s  funda- 
mental doctrines ; and  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that, 
Wesley  having  read  and  revised  Fletcher’s  manuscript, 
Fletcher’s  conception  is  stamped  with  Wesley’s  own  authority. 

Fletcher  proceeds  to  explain  and  to  defend  Wesley’s 
“ Minutes,”  and  to  show  they  were  greatly  needed.  He 
says  : — 

Mr.  Wesley’s  design  was  to  guard  his  preachers  and  their  hearers 
against  Antinomian  principles  and  practices,  which  spread  like  wild-fire 
in  some  of  his  Societies  ; where  persons,  who  spoke  in  the  most  glorious 
manner  of  Christ,  and  their  interest  in  His  complete  salvation,  have 
been  found  living  in  the  greatest  immoralities,  or  indulging  in  the  most 
unchristian  tempers.  Nor  need  I go  far  for  a proof  of  this  sad  assertion. 
In  one  of  his  Societies,  not  many  miles  from  my  parish,  a married  man, 
who  professed  being  in  a state  of  justification  and  sanctification y 
growing  wise  above  what  is  written,  despised  his  brethren  as  legalists, 


200 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor, 


[1771. 


and  his  teachers  as  persons  not  clear  in  the  Gospel.  He  instilled  his 
principles  into  a serious  young  woman  ; and  what  was  the  consequence  ? 
Why,  they  talked  about  ‘ finished  salvation  in  Christ,’  and  ‘the  absurdity 
of  perfection  in  the  flesh,’  till  a perfect  child  was  conceived  and  bom  ; 
and,  to  save  appearances,  the  woman  swore  it  to  a travelling  man  that 
cannot  be  heard  of.  Thus,  to  avoid  legality,  they  plunged  into  hypocrisy, 
fornication,  adultery,  perjury,  and  the  depth  of  ranterism.  Is  it  not  hard 
that  a minister  should  be  traduced  as  guilty  of  dreadful  heresy  for  trying 
to  put  a stop  to  such  dreadful  practices  ? And  is  it  not  high  time  that 
he  should  cry  to  all  that  regard  his  warnings,  ‘ Take  heed  to  your 
doctrine  ’ ? ” 

Fletcher  then  proceeds  to  give  a deplorable  picture  of  many 
of  the  professing  Christians  of  the  age,  which,  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  was  too  darkly  drawn,  though  it  is  difficult  to  prove 
it  was.  The  following  extract  shows  that  many  of  the 
Methodists  were  not  better  than  their  neighbours,  and  that 
it  was  of  paramount  importance  that  Wesley’s  preachers 
should  take  heed  to  their  doctrine  : — 

“ Mr.  Wesley  has  many  persons  in  his  Societies,  (and  would  to  God 
there  were  none  in  ours  !)  who  profess  they  were  justified  or  sanctified 
in  a moment ; but,  instead  of  trusting  in  the*  living  God,  so  trust  in 
what  was  done  in  that  moment ^ as  to  give  over  taking  up  their  cross 
daily ^ and  watching  unto  d>r ay er  with  all ;per severance.  The  conse- 
quences are  deplorable  : they  slide  back  into  the  spirit  of  the  world ; 
and  their  tempers  are  no  more  regulated  by  the  meek,  gentle,  humble 
love  of  Jesus.  Some  inquire  with  the  heathens.  What  shall  we  eaty 
and  what  shall  we  d7‘ink  to  please  ourselves  ? Others  evidently  love 
the  world ; layup  treasures  on  earth;  or  ask,.  Wherewith  shall  we 
be  fashionably  clothed  ? Therefore,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in 
them.  And  not  a few  are  led  captive  by  the  devil  at  his  will:  influenced 
by  his  unhappy  suggestions,,  they  harbour  bitterness,  malice,  and  revenge: 
none  is  in  the  right  but  themselves,  and  ‘wisdom  shall  die  with  them.’ 

“Now,  Sir,  Mr.  Wesley  cannot  but  fear  it  is  not  well  with  persons 
who  are  in  any  of  these  cases : though  everybody  should  join  to  extol 
them  as  ‘dear  children  of  God,’  he  is  persuaded  that  Satan  has  beguiled 
themy^as  he  did  Eve ; and  he  addresses  them,  as  our  Lord  did  the  angel 
of  the  church  of  Sardis, — ‘ I know  thy  works,  that  thou  hast  a namey 
that  thou  livest ; and  art  deady  or  dying  : ^ Repent y therefore y and 
strengthen  the  things  which  remain y that  are  ready  to  die;  for  I 
have  not  found  thy  works  perfect  dhfore  God.  ’ ’ ’ 

When  it  is  remembered  that  Fletcher’s  manuscript  was 
read  and  revised  by  Wesley,  before  it  was  printed,  the  fore- 
going description  of  “ many  persons''  in  Wesley’s  Societies  is 
possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  interest.  Only  ten  years 


Age  41.]  Fletcher^ s Vindication  of  Wesley* s Minutes.  20 1 


had  elapsed  since  the  great  revival  of  Christian  perfection  in 
those  Societies,  and  yet  such  was  the  judgment  pronounced 
by  Fletcher,  and  which  Wesley  sanctioned  ! 

After  explaining  and  defending  all  the  doctrines  contained 
in  Wesley's  ‘‘  Minutes,"  Fletcher  concludes  his  fourth  letter 
as  follows : — 

‘‘  Thus,  Sir,  have  I looked  out  for  the  heresy,  the  dreadful  heresy  of 
Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Minutes,’  by  bringing  all  the  propositions  they  contain 
to  the  touchstone  of  Scripture  and  common  sense  ; but,  instead  of 
finding  it,  I have  found  the  very  mar*ow  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  I 
have  showed  that  the  ‘Minutes’  contain  nothing  but  what  is  truly  scrip- 
tural; and  nothing  but  what  the  best  Calvinist  divines  have  themselves, 
directly  or  indirectly,  asserted ; except,  perhaps,  the  sixth  proposition  con- 
cerning the  merit  of  works ; and,  with  respect  to  this,  I hope  I have  demon- 
strated, upon  rational  and  evangelical  principles,  that  Mr.  Wesley,  far 
from  bringing  in  a damnable  heresy,  has  done  the  Gospel  justice,  and 
Protestantism  service,  by  candidly  giving  up  an  old  prejudice,  equally 
contrary  to  Scripture  and  good  sense, — a piece  of  bigotry  which  has 
long  hardened  the  papists  against  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  the  merit 
of  Christ,  and  has  added  inconceivable  strength  to  the  Antinomian 
delusion  among  us. 

One  difficulty  remains,  and  that  is,  to  account  for  your  attacking 
Mr.  Wesley,  though  you  could  not  wound  him  Vv^ithout  stabbing  yourself. 
Reserving  my  reflections  upon  this  amazing  step  for  another  letter, 

“ I remain  your  astonished  servant  in  the  bonds  of  a peaceful  Gospel, 

“J.  Fletcher.” 

As  here  indicated,  the  fifth  and  last  letter  contained  that 
which  most  offended  Shirley.  In  his  Narrative,"  Shirley 
remarks  : — 

“ Mr.  Wesley  assured  us  he  had  corrected  all  the  tart  expressions 
in  them”  (that  is,  in  Fletcher’s  Letters).  “Alas  ! Qualia  verba,  qucB 
facta  / Whether  there  are  no  tart  expressions  in  the  Letters,  let  every 
one  that  hath  seen  them  judge..  But,,  perhaps,  this  learned  gentleman 
distinguishes  between  the  tart  and  the  bitter.  If  all  the  tart  expres- 
sions are  corrected,  I am  sure  there  are  enough  of  the  bitter  left. 

“As  to  the  Letters  themselves,  I shall  have  ‘the  author’s’  pardon 
for  noticing  two  particular  charges  against  me. 

“ I.  I am  supposed  to  want  candour;  as  if  I had  put  a forced  con- 
struction on  the  ‘ Minutes,’  in  order  to  bring  Mr.  Wesley  in  guilty. 
Mr.  Fletcher  has  attempted  a ‘ vindication  ’ of  them  ; and,  by  breaking 
them  into  sentences  and  half-sentences,  and  refining  upon  each  of  these 
detached  particles,  he  has  done  more  than  I could  have  expected,  even 
from  his  great  abilities,  in  giving  a new  turn  to  the  whole.  But,  after 
reading  his  learned  and  elaborate  ‘Vindication,’  when  I cast  my  eye 


202 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


over  the  ' Minutes/  and  consider  the  whole  as  it  stands  in  context,  I 
must  own,  I am  just  where  I was:  nothing  but  the  ^Declaration'  could 
ever  convince  me  that  justification  by  works  was  not  maintained  and 
supported  by  the  ‘ Minutes.’ 

2.  The  charge  of  inconsistency  is  supported  by  quotations  from  my 
sermons.  To  this,  I beg  leave  to  observe,  that  the  passages  quoted  are 
not  altogether  in  point ; neither  do  they  maintain  justification  by  works 
in  such  direct  and  express  terms  as  the  ‘ Minutes  ’ appear  to  do.  I must, 
however,  own  that  they  savour  too  strongly  of  mysticism  and  free-will ; 
and  all  I can  say,  on  my  behalf  in  this  respect,  is,  that  they  were 
written  many  years  ago,  at  a time  when  I had  more  zeal  than  light ; 
that  my  present  ministry,  as  well  as  my  present  way  of  thinking,  is  very 
different ; and  that  I have  frequently  expressed  my  disapprobation  of 
those  sermons,  nay  wished  they  had  been  burnt.” 

Shirley  was  nettled ; and,  after  the  imperious  arrogance  dis- 
played in  his  “ Circular  Letter,''  he  deserved  to  be.  Fletcher's 
fifth  and  last  letter  is  caustical  ; but  not  more  so  than  the 
occasion  justified.  The  following  is  extracted  from  it : — 

‘^Hon.  and  Rev.  Sir, — Having  vindicated  both  some  important 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  an  eminent  servant  of  Christ  from  the 
charge  of  dreadful  heresy,  I will  now  take  the  liberty  of  a friend  to 
expostulate  a little  With,  you. 

When  Brutus,  among  other  senators,  rushed  upon  Caesar,  the  vener- 
able general  said,  ^ Art  thou  also  among  them  ? Even  thou,  my  son  ?’ 
May  not  Mr.  Wesley  address  you.  Sir,  in  the  same  words,  and  add, 

‘ If  a body  of  men  must  be  raised  to  attack  me,  let  some  zealous  follower 
of  Dr.  Crisp,  some  hot-headed  vindicator  of  reprobation  and  eternal 
justification  blow  the  trumpet,  and  put  himself  at  their  head  ; but  let  it 
not  be  you,  who  believe  with  me  that  we  are  moral  agents  ; that  God  is 
love ; that  Jesus  tasted  death  for  every  man ; and  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
shall  not  always  strive  with  sinners.  If  you  do  not  regard  my  reputa- 
tion, consider  at  least  your  own,  and  expose  me  not  as  a heretic  for 
advancing  propositions,  the  substance  of  which  you  have  avowed  before 
the  sun.’ 

‘‘But  had  those  propositions,  at  length,  appeared  to  you  unsound, 
yea,  and  had  you  never  maintained  them  yourself,  should  you  not,  as  a 
Christian  and  a brother,  have  wrote  to  Mr.  Wesley,  acquainted  him 
with  your  objections,  and  desired  him  to  solve  them  and  explain  him- 
self, or  you  should  be  obliged  publicly  to  expose  him  ? 

“Was  this  condescension  more  than  was  due  from  you.  Sir,  and  our 
other  friends,  to  a grey-headed  minister  of  Christ,  an  old  general  in  the 
armies  of  Emmanuel,  a father  who  has  children  capable  of  instructing 
even  masters  in  Israel,  and  one  whom  God  made  the  first  and  principal 
instrument  of  the  late  revival  of  internal  religion  in  our  Church  ? 

“ Instead  of  this  friendly  method,  as  if  you  were  a Barak,  commanded 
by  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  you  call  together  the  children  of  Nafhthali 


Age  41.]  Fletcher^ s Vindication  of  Weslef  s Minutes.  203 


and  Zebulun  : you  convene,  from  England  and  Wales,  clergy  and  laity, 
Churchmen  and  Dissenters,  to  meet  you  at  Bristol,  where  they  are,  it 
seems,  to  be  entertained  in  good  and  free  quarters.  And  for  what 
grand  expedition  ? Why,  on  a day  appointed,  you  are  to  march  up 
in  a bodyy  not  to  attack  Sisera  and  his  iron  chariots,  but  an  old  Caleb, 
who,  without  meddling  with  you,  quietly  goes  on  to  the  conquest  of 
Canaan  ; not  to  desire,  in  a friendly  manner,  after  a fair  debate  of  every 
proposition  that  appears  dangerous,  and,  upon  previous  conviction,  that 
what  is  exceptionable  may  be  given  up  ; but  to  do  what  I think  was 
never  done  by  nominal,  much  less  by  real  Protestants.  O let  it  not  be 
told  in  Rome,  lest  the  sons  of  the  Inquisition  rejoice  ! This  mixed,  this 
formidable  body  is  to  insist  u^on  Mr.  Wesley  and  the  preachers  in  his 
formally  recanting  as  appear  mg  injurious 

to  the  very  fundamental  jrincijles  of  Christianity , and  being  dread- 
fully heretical.  And  this,  astonishing  ! without  the  least  inquiry  made 
into  their  meaning  and  design,  without  a shadow  of  authority  from  our 
superiors  in  Church  or  State,  without  an  appeal  to  the  law  and  to  the 
testimony ^ without  form  of  process,  without  judge  or  jury,  without  so 
much  as  allowing  the  poor  heretics  (who  are  condemned  six  weeks 
before  they  can  possibly  be  heard)  to  answer  for  themselves  ! 

^‘How  could  you  suppose.  Sir,  that  Mr.  Wesley  and  the  preachers 
who  assemble  with  him  are  such  weak  men,  as  tamely  to  acknowledge 
themselves  heretics  upon  your  ijse  dixit  ? Suppose  Mr.  Wesley  took 
it  in  his  head  to  convene  all  the  divines  that  disapprove  the  extract  of 
Zanchius,^  to  go  with  him  in  a body  to  Mr.  Toplady’s  chapel,  and 
demand  a formal  recantation  of  that  performance  as  heretical ; yea,  to 
insist  upon  it,  before  they  had  ' measured  swords  or  broken  a pike 
together,’  would  not  the  translator  of  Zanchius  laugh  at  him,  and  ask 
whether  he  thought  to  frighten  him  by  his  protests,  or  bully  him  into 
orthodoxy  ? 

O,  Sir,  have  we  not  fightings  enough  without,  to  employ  all  our 
time  and  strength  ? Must  we  also  declare  war  and  promote  fightings 
within  ? Must  we  catch  at  every  opportunity  to  stab  one  another,  be- 
cause the  livery  of  truth  which  we  wear  is  not  turned  up  in  the  same 
manner  ? What  can  be  more  cruel  than  this  ? What  can  be  more 
cutting  to  an  old  minister  of  Christ,  than  to  be  traduced  as  a dreadful 
heretic,  in  printed  letters  sent  to  the  best  men  in  the  land,  yea,  through 
all  England  and  Scotland,  and  signed  by  a person  of  your  rank  and 
piety  ? To  have  things  that  he  knows  not,  that  he  never  meant,  laid 
to  his  charge,  and  dispersed  far  and  near  ? While  he  is  gone  to  a 
neighbouring  kingdom,^  to  preach  Jesus  Christ,  to  have  his  friends 


^ In  1769,  Toplady  published  ‘‘The  Doctrine  of  Absolute  Predestina- 
tion Stated  and  Asserted.  Translated,  in  great  measure,  from  the 
Latin  of  Jerome  Zanchius;  with  some  Account  of  his  Life  prefixed.” 
8vo.  134  pp.  An  impious  production,  in  the  garb  of  piety. 

^ Wesley  was  in  Ireland  from  March  24  to  July  22,  1771.  It  was 
during  this  period  that  Shirley  sent  forth  his  offensive  “ Circular 
Letter.” 


204 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


prejudiced,  his  foes  elevated,  and  the  fruit  of  his  extensive  ministry  at 
the  point  of  being  blasted  ? Put  yourself  in  his  place.  Sir,  and  you  will 
see  that  the  wound  is  deep  and  reaches  the  very  heart. 

Our  Elijah^  has  lately  been  translated  to  heaven.  Grey-headed 
Elisha  is  yet  awhile  continued  upon  earth.  And  shall  we  make  a hurry 
and  noise,  to  bring  in  railing  accusations  against  him  with  more 
success  ? Shall  the  sons  of  prophets,  shall  even  children  in  grace  and 
knowledge,  openly  traduce  the  venerable  seer  and  his  abundant  labours  ? 
When  they  see  him  run  upon  his  Lord’s  errands,  shall  they  cry,  not, 

^ Go  thou  bald  head'  but,  ^ Go  up,  thou  heretic'?  O Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  Thou  rejected  of  men.  Thou  Who  wast  once  called  a deceiver 
of  the  people,  suffer  it  not ; lest  the  raging  bear  of  persecution  come 
suddenly  out  of  the  wood  upon  those  sons  of  discord,  and  tear  them  in 
pieces.” 

Remembering  the  confidential  and  \varm  friendship  that 
had  existed  between  Fletcher  and  the  Countess  of  Hunting- 
don and  her  nephew,  Walter  Shirley,  it  must  be  admitted 
that  these  expostulations  ’’  were  pungent ; but  they  were 
provoked  by  the  arrogance  of  the  offenders.  It  is  true,  as 
already  stated,  that,  on  the  evening  before  Wesley's  Con- 
ference assembled,  her  ladyship  and  Shirley  wrote  letters  to 
Wesley  containing  half-hearted  apologies  for  their  ‘‘  arbitrary 
way  of  proceeding  ” in  the  “ Circular  Letter."  “ It  must  be 
acknowledged,"  said  Shirley,  that,  upon  the  whole,  the 
Circular  Letter  was  too  hastily  drawn  up  and  improperly 
expressed  ; and,  therefore,  for  the  offensive  expressions  in  it, 
we  desire  we  may  be  hereby  understood  to  make  every  suit- 
able submission  to  you.  Sir,  and  to  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Conference."^  The  apology  was  proper;  but  it  was  not 
sufficient.  The  “ Circular  Letter,"  branding  Wesley  as  a 
dreadful  heretic,  had  been  sent  to  a large  number  of  “ prin- 
cipal persons,  both  clergy  and  laity,"  throughout  the  three 
kingdoms ; whereas  the  letters  of  the  Countess  and  her 
nephew  were  private  ones,  addressed  only  to  Wesley  and 
his  preachers.  Moreover,  the  apology  was  accoinpanied  with 
a threat. 

I cannot  but  wish,”  wrote  Shirley,  ‘'that  the  recantation  of  the 
Circular  Letter  may  prevail  as  an  example  for  the  recantation  of  the 
‘Minutes.’  If  I should  be  unhappily  disappointed  in  this  respect,  I 


‘ Whitefield,  who  died  September  30,  1770, 
2 Shirley’s  “Narrative.” 


Age  41.] 


An  Apology. 


205 


shall  feel  myself  bound  in  conscience  to  yield  my  public  testimony 
against  such  doctrines  as  these,  which  appear  to  me  subversive  of  the 
fundamentals  of  Christianity.”* 

And,  once  more,  the  apology,  such  as  it  was,  was  sent 
too  late,  for  Fletcher  had  already  written  his  “ Vindication '' 
of  Wesley's  ‘‘Minutes;"  the  manuscript  had  been  sent  to 
Wesley,  and  Wesley  had  revised  it,  and  committed  it  to 
the  press. 

The  war  was  begun,  and  we  must  follow  it  to  its  ter- 
mination, so  far  as  Fletcher  is  concerned ; for  it  is  impos- 
sible, in  a work  like  this,  to  notice  all  the  pamphlets  that 
were  published.  Those  who  wish  for  further  information 
may  turn  to  the  “ Life  and  Times  of  Wesley." 


* Shirley’s  Narrative.” 


206 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771- 


chapter  IX. 

SECOND  CHECK  TO  ANTINOMIANISM 
1771. 

WESLEY’S  “ Minutes  ” and  Shirley’s  Circular  Letter  ” 
created  a commotion.  The  Rev.  Walter  Sellon  had 
recently  published  his  Church  of  England  Vindicated  from 
the  Charge  of  Absolute  Predestination  ; as  it  is  stated  and 
asserted  by  the  Translator  of  Jerome  Zanchius  ” [Toplady] 
“ in  his  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nowell.  Together  with  some 
Animadversions  on  his  Translation  of  Zanchius,  his  Letter 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley,  and  his  Sermon  on  i Tim. 
i.  10.”  This  not  over-courteous  publication  was  reviewed 
in  the  August  number  of  the  Gospel  Magazme  for  1771  ; 
and,  no  doubt,  the  review  had  been  read  by  the  gentlemen 
who  proposed  to  invade  Wesley’s  Conference.  It  began  as 
follows  : — 

‘‘A  composition  of  low  scurrility  and  illiberal  abuse,  for  which  this 
author  and  his  coadjutors  are  remarkable.  Not  one  Calvinist  who  comes 
in  his  way  escapes.  He  is  so  much  given  up  to  slander  and  defamation, 
that  he  can  no  more  refrain  from  defaming  even  the  dead  than  from 
slandering  the  living.” 

Its  last  paragraph  was  the  following  ; and  these  two 
citations  will  enable  the  reader  to  form  an  opinion  of  the 
whole  : — 

When  we  meet  with  erroneous  systems  set  up  in  opposition  to  the 
Word  of  God,  we  speak  our  mind  freely  of  them,  and  aim  to  show  the 
dangerous  tendency  of  them.  But  no  sooner  do  we  touch  the  cobweb 
system  of  self-righteous  Pharisees,  but  they  cry  out,  with  their  brethren 
of  old  to  our  Lord,  ‘Thou  reproachest  us  also.’  We  cannot  aim  to 
dissect  and  expose  their  opinions,  but  they  cry  out  of  slandering  their 
persons,  and  ‘ Oh,  you  have  no  love  to  Mr.  John  ! ’ God  bless  Mr. 


Age  41  ] 


Letters  in  the  Gospel  Magazine ^ 


207 


John  ! But  who  is  Mr.  John  ? Is  he  the  standard  of  truth,  the  pinnacle 
of  orthodoxy,  the  touchstone  by  which  truth  is  to  be  tried  and  known  ? 
What  is  Mr.  John?  What  is  Mr.  Walter?  Men,  frail  men,  and 
miserable  sinners  like  ourselves.  All  that  we  say  of  them  is.  As  men, 
we  love  them  ; as  miserable  sinners,  we  wish  their  salvation  ; as  fellow- 
creatures,  we  would  not  hurt  a hair  of  their  heads  ; whatever  is  in  our 
power  to  do  them  good,  we  would  cheerfully  minister  unto  them.” 

In  the  September  number  of  the  same  periodical,  there 
was  a letter,  signed  “Simplex,’'  and  dated  “August  3,  1771, 
From  the  Neighbourhood  of  the  Foundery,”  as  follows  : — 

Sir, — I have  just  read  your  last  number,  and  am  amazed  at  the 
Declaration  in  it,  as  made  by  Mr.  Wesley  and  his  friends,  at  the  late 
Conference  at  Bristol.  I am  amazed  at  the  wisdom  of  that  great  man 
that  he  should  devise  a Declaration  ^ couched  in  terms  so  ambiguous  as 
to  satisfy  his  opponents,  whilst,  in  reality,  it  denies  not  one  tittle  clearly 
asserted  in  the  ‘ Minutes  ; ^ and  I am  amazed  at  gentlemen,  who  might 
have  been  acquainted  with  the  unfathomable  policy  of  that  dubious 
divine,  not  being  more  upon  their  guard  than  to  have  been  put  off  by 
such  an  unmeaning  confession. 

''  Since  the  Conference,  and,  of  course,  since  the  making  of  this 
Declaration,  Mr.  Fletcher  has  published  a very  warm,  and  not  ill- 
written  ‘ Vindication  of  the  Minutes,’  which,  from  his  intimacy  with 
Mr.  Wesley,  evidently  shows  that  the  gentleman  in  question  never 
meant  to  recant  what  he  had  declared  in  the  ' Minutes  ’ when  he  signed 
the  Declaration.^ 

What  can  we  think  of  this  ? You  ask.  What  can  we  say  to  this? 
Why,  gentlemen,  you  may  say  that  the  fox  has  had  sagacity  enough  to 
elude  his  hunters.  Or,  in  other  words,  that  Mr.  Wesley  is,  what  I 
always  took  him  to  be,  a very  wise  man. 

Does  this  tend  to  clear  up  the  affair  ? Yes.  Taken  in  its  connec- 
tion with  Fletcher’s  'Vindication  of  the  Minutes,’  it  very  plainly  clears 
it  up  to  every  man ; and  shows  that  however  these  gentlemen  may 
abhor  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  the  of  works,  as  most 

perilous  and  abominable,  they  are  determined  to  abide  by  the  doctrine 
of  justification  by  works  as  a condition,  which  is  all  that  is  clearly 
expressed  in  the  ‘Minutes.’  If  Cranmer  and  his  brethren  had  drunk 
half  as  deep  into  the  spirit  of  Ignatius,”  [Loyala  !]  “they  had  never 
been  brought  to  the  stake  for  their  doctrine  ; but  might  even  have  out- 
witted the  eagle-eyed  Bishops  of  London  and  Winchester.” 


^ This  is  a calumny.  The  Declaration  was  not  drawn  up  by  Wesley, 
but  by  Shirley.  “Wesley,”  says  Shirley,  “made  some,  not  very 
material^  alterations  in  it.” 

2 Another  misrepresentation  ; for  Fletcher’s  manuscript  was  com- 
mitted to  the  press  before  the  Declaration  was  signed. 


2o8 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


Another  communication  by  ‘‘  Simplex  ’’  must  be  noticed. 
Like  his  former  letter,  it  was  printed  in  the  Gospel  Magazine, 
It  was  dated  “ From  the  Neighbourhood  of  the  F'oundery, 
October  9,  1771/'  and  was  addressed  ‘‘To  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wesley,  Mr.  Sellon,  Mr.  Fletcher,  and  Mr.  Olivers.''  The 
following  are  extracts  from  it : — 

Mr.  Wesley  is  now  an  old  man,  and,  according  to  the  course  of 
nature,  must  in  a little  time  have  done  with  a lying  world.  Let  him, 
like  an  honest  man,  a Christian,  that  has  heaven  in  his  eye,  and  a 
sense  of  the  Divine  presence  upon  his  heart,  tell  us  plainly  whether  he 
really  thinks  that  his  continuance  in  the  love  of  God,  and  the  exercise 
of  faith,  is  owing  to  his  own  good  management,  or  to  the  sovereignty 
and  freeness  of  the  love  of  God  and  agency  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ? ” 

The  temper  of  this  production  is  painfully  displayed  in  its 
concluding  paragraph  : — 

‘‘  Should  any  reply  be  made  to  this  letter,  and  might  I be  indulged 
with  liberty  to  choose  my  correspondent,  I would  most  earnestly  depre- 
cate having  anything  to  do  with  the  Reverend  Mr.  Walter  Sellon,  as  I 
am  no  adept  in  scolding,  and  am  sorry  to  see  the  name  of  a Christian 
minister  prefaced  to  such  foul  and  futile  productions  as  those,  of  Mr. 
Sellon^ s pen:  Mr.  Fletcher’s  pen  is  indeed  more  cleanly,  but  every 

whit  as  unfair ; and  him  I object  to  because  he  is  apt  to  exclaim  against 
his  opponents  as  enemies  to  Christian  peace,  even  when  he  himself  does 
what  he  can  to  stab  their  reputation  to  the  heart.  He  is  very  apt 
grievously  to  complain  of  ill-usage  from  others,  when,  at  the  same  time, 
like  a madman,  he  himself  keeps  flinging  abroad  firebrands,  arrows, 
and  death  amongst  those  who  differ  from  him.  Mr.  Olivers  should  be 
my  man,  if  in  future  he  will  guard  against  shocking  common  decency, 
as  he  has  done  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Toplady,  where  he  is  pleased  to  call 
Mr.  Hervey’s  admirable  letters  to  Mr.  Wesley  scurrilous : which  in- 
decency, although  borrowed  indeed  from  Mr,  Walter  Sellon,  must 
needs  have  an  influence  fatal  to  Master  Thomas  Olivers’  credit  as  a 
writer.  As  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley  himself,  I do  not  expect  that  he 
can  spare  so  much  time  as  to  give  a satisfactory  answer  to  my  querulous 
epistle,  as  it  will  require  his  being  more  explicit  than  he  has  hitherto 
accustomed  himself  to  be.” 

Enough  has  been  said  to  show  the  bitterness  of  feeling 
which  had  already  sprung  up  against  Fletcher  (to  say  nothing 
of  Wesley,  Sellon,  and  Olivers),  and  that  it  was  not  surprising 
he  was  induced  to  defend  himself  against  such  infamous 
attacks  as  those  of  “ Simplex  " and  his  Calvinian  friends. 

Meanwhile,  Shirley  was  passing  through  the  press  his 


Age  42]. 


Unpublished  Letter, 


209 


Narrative  of  the  Principal  Circumstances  relating  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Wesley  s late  Conference,  held  in  Bristol  August  the 
6th,  1771  ''  (8  VO.,  24  pp.)  Fletcher  refers  to  this  in  the 
following  extract  from  an  unpublished  letter  addressed  to 
Joseph  Benson,  and  kindly  lent  by  Mr.  G.  J.  Stevenson  : — 

Madeley,  August  2 1771- 

‘‘My  Dear  Friend, — How  much  water  may  rush  out  of  a little 
opening!  What  are  our  dear  lady’s  jealousies  come  to?  Ah,  poor 
College  1 They  are  without  a master,  but  not  without  a mistress.  Their 
conduct  and  charges  of  heresy  stirred  me  up  to  write  in  defence  of  the 
‘ Minutes.’  The  pamphlet  is  gone  abroad  unseasonably  in  its  present 
dress.  The  toga  would  now  suit  it,  but  it  wears  the  chlamys.  By  this 
means,  the  voice  of  the  arguments  will  be  lost  in  the  cry  of  treachery. 

“ I received  this  morning  a most  kind  letter  from  Mr.  Shirley,  whom 
I now  pity  much.  He  will  pass  by  me  ; but  I fear  Mr.  Olivers  will  have 
some  cutting  lashes.  Mr.  Shirley  is  gone  to  Wales,  probably  to  consult 
what  to  do  in  the  present  case.  What  a world  I Methinks  I dream 
when  I reflect  that  I have  written  on  controversy ; the  last  subject  I 
thought  I should  have  meddled  with.  I expect  to  be  smartly  taken  in 
hand  and  soundly  drubbed  for  it.  Lord,  prepare  me  for  it,  and  for  every- 
thing that  may  make  me  cease  from  man,  and  above  all  from  your 
unworthy  friend, 

“J.  Fletcher. 

“P.S.  My  kindest  love  to  Mr.  Mather.^  I hope  you  are  happy  in 
each  other’s  company.  May  you  be  both  blessed,  as  being  one  heart, 
and  one  soul,  and  colleagues  in  Jesus  I ” 

Instead  of  inflicting  on  Thomas  Olivers  what  Fletcher 
calls  “some  cutting  lashes,”  Shirley  treated  the  sturdy  Welsh- 
man with  forbearance  ; and  if  he  used  severity  at  all,  not 
Wesley's  itinerant,  but  the  Vicar  of  Madeley  was  his  victim. 

Fletcher  immediately  prepared  a reply  to  Shirley’s  “ Nar- 
rative and,  before  the  year  was  ended,  published  it, 
with  the  title,  “ A Second  Check  to  Antinomianism  ; occa- 
sioned by  a Late  Narrative,  in  Three  Letters  to  the  Hon. 
and  Rev.  Author.  By  the  Vindicator  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Wesley’s  Minutes.”  i2mo,  120  pp.  This  “Second  Check,” 
like  the  former  one,  was  revised  by  Wesley,^  and,  therefore, 
was  issued  with  his  approval. 


^ Mr.  Mather  and  Mr.  Benson  were  now  stationed  in  Wesley’s  London 
Circuit. 

7 See  “The  Second  Part  of  the  Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism,”  p.  ii. 
First  Edition. 


14 


210 


TVesky^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


Fletcher’s  first  letter  to  Shirley  begins  as  follows  : — 

my  last  private  communication,  I observed,  Rev.  Sir,  that,  if 
your  ‘Narrative’  was  kind,  I would  buy  a number  of  copies,  and  give 
them  gratis  to  the  purchasers  of  my  book,  that  they  might  see  all  you 
can  possibly  produce  in  your  own  defence,  and  do  you  all  the  justice 
your  proper  behaviour  at  the  Conference  deserves.  But,  as  it  appears 
to  me  there  are  some  important  mistakes  in  that  performance,  I neither 
dare  recommend  it  absolutely  to  my  friends,  nor  wish  it,  in  the  religious 
world,  the  full  success  you  desire. 

“ I do  not  complain  of  its  severity;  on  the  contrary,  considering  the 
sharpness  of  my  fifth  letter,  I gratefully  acknowledge  it  is  kinder  than 
I had  reason  to  expect.  But  permit  me  to  tell  you.  Sir,  I look  ior  justice 
to  the  scriptural  arguments  I advance  in  defence  of  truth,  before  I look 
for  kindness  to  my  insignificant  person,  and  could  be  much  sooner 
satisfied  with  the  former,  than  with  the  latter  alone.  As  I do  not 
admire  the  fashionable  method  of  advancing  general  charges  without 
supporting  them  by  particular  proofs,  I vshall  take  the  liberty  of  pointing 
out  some  mistakes  in  your  ‘ Narrative,’  and,  by  that  means,  endeavour 
to  do  justice  to  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘ Declaration,’ your  own  ‘Sermons,’  my 
‘ Vindication,’  and,  above  all,  to  the  cause  of  practical  religion.” 

Fletcher  then  proceeds  to  quote  numerous  texts  of  Scrip- 
ture in  support  of  the  doctrine  of  a second  justification  by 
works,  and  argues  that  it  “will  rouse  Antinomians  out  of  their 
carnal  security,  stir  up  believers  to  follow  hard  after  holiness, 
and  reconcile  fatal  differences  among  Christians,  and  seeming 
contradictions  in  the  Scripture.'' 

In  sundry  passages  he  treats  the  Antinomians  with  deserved 
severity  ; but,  in  a long  foot-note,  observes  : — 

“ I beg  I may  not  be  understood  to  level  the  following  paragraphs, 
or  any  part  of  these  letters,  at  my  pious  Calvinist  brethren.  God  knows 
how  deeply  I reverence  many,  who  are  immovably  fixed  in,  what  some 
call,  the  doctrines  of  grace  ; how  gladly  (as  conscious  of  their  genuine 
conversion  and  eminent  usefulness)  I would  lie  in  the  dust  at  their  feet 
to  honour  our  Lord  in  His  dear  members  ; and  how  often  I have  thought 
it  a peculiar  infelicity  to  dissent  from  such  excellent  men,  with  whom  I 
wanted  both  to  live  and  die,  and  with  whom  I hope  soon  to  reign  for 
ever. 

“As  these  real  children  of  God  lament  the  bad  use  Antinomians 
make  of  their  principles,  I hope  they  will  not  be  offended  if  I bear  my 
testimony  against  a growing  evil,  which  they  have  frequently  opposed 
themselves.  While  the  Calvinists  guard  the  foundation  against 
Pharisees,  they  will,  I hope,  allow  the  Remonstrants  to  guard  the 
supper str uctur e Antinomians.  If  in  doing  these  good  offices 

to  the  Church,  we  find  ourselves  obliged  to  bear  a little  hard  upon  the 


Age  42.]  Fleicher’ s Second  Check  to  Antinomianis-mF  211 


peculiar  sentiments  of  our  opposite  friends,  let  us  do  it  in  such  a manner 
as  not  to  break  the  bonds  of  peace  and  brotherly  kindness  ; so  shall 
our  honest  reproof  become  matter  of  useful  exercise  to  that  love  which 
thinketh  no  evil^  ho;peth  all  things^  rejoiceth  even  in  the  galling 
truths  and  is  neither  quenched  by  many  waters^  nor  damped  by  any 
opposition.” 

In  his  second  letter,  Fletcher  protests  against  Shirley 
recanting  the  doctrines  contained  in  his  published  sermons, 
and  concludes  as  follows  : — 

I assure  you,  Sir,  I do  not  love  the  warlike  dress  of  the  Vindicator, 
any  more  than  David  did  the  heavy  armour  of  Saul.  With  gladness, 
therefore,  I cast  it  aside  to  throw  myself  at  your  feet,  and  protest  to 
you,  that,  though  I thought  it  my  duty  to  write  to  you  with  the  utmost 
plainness,  frankness,  and  honesty,  the  design  of  doing  it  with  bitterness 
never  entered  my  heart.  However,  for  every  ‘ bitter  expression  ’ that 
may  have  dropped  from  my  sharp,  vindicating  pen,  I ask  you  pardon  ; 
but  it  must  be  in  general,  for  neither  friends  nor  foes  have  particu- 
larly pointed  out  to  me  one  such  expression. 

^ Wou  condescend.  Rev.  Sir,  to  call  me  your  ‘learned  friend.’  Learn- 
ing is  an  accomplishment  I never  pretended  to ; but  your  f riendship 
is  an  honour  I shall  always  highly  esteem,  and  do  at  this  time  value 
above  my  own  brother’s  love.  Appearances  are  a little  against  me  : I 
feel  I am  a thorn  in  your  flesh ; but  I am  persuaded  it  is  a necessary 
one,  and  this  persuasion  reconciles  me  to  the  thankless  and  disagreeable 
part  I act.  I can  assure  you,  my  dear  Sir,  I love  and  honour  you,  as 
truly  as  I dislike  the  rashness  of  your  well-meant  zeal.  The  motto  I 
thought  myself  obliged  to  follow  was,  ‘ E bello  pax  ; ’ but  that  which  I 
delight  in  is,  ^ In  bello  paxi"  May  we  make  them  harmonize  till  we 
learn  war  and  polemic  divinity  no  more ! 

“ If  in  the  meantime  we  offend  our  weak  brethren,  let  us  do  something 
to  lessen  the  offence  till  it  is  removed.  Let  us  show  them  we  make 
war  without  so  much  as  shyness.  Should  you  ever  come  to  the  next 
county,  as  you  did  last  summer,  honour  me  with  a line,  and  I shall 
gladly  wait  upon  you,  and  show  you  (if  you  permit  me)  the  way  to  my 
pulpit,  where  I shall  think  myself  highly  favoured  to  see  you  ‘ secure 
the  foundation,’  and  hear  you  enforce  the  doctrine  oi  justification  by 
faith,  which  you  fear  we  attack.  And  should  I ever  be  within  thirty 
miles  of  the  city  where  you  reside,  I shall  go  to  submit  myself  to  you, 
and  beg  leave  to  assist  you  in  reading  prayers  for  you,  or  giving  the 
cup  with  you.  Thus  shall  we  convince  the  world  how  controversy  may 
be  conscientiously  carried  on  without  interruption  of  brotherly  love  ; 
and  I shall  have  the  peculiar  pleasure  of  testifying  to  you  in  person 
how  sincerely  I am, 

“ Honoured  and  dear  Sir, 

“Your  submissive  and  obedient  servant,  in  the  bond  of  a practical 
Gospel, 


“J.  Fletcher.” 


212 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


The  third  letter,  to  a large  extent,  is  historical,  and  shows, 
with  terrific  faithfulness,  that  not  a few  of  the  so-called 
evangelical  ministers  and  churches  of  a hundred  years  ago 
were  far  from  what  they  should  have  been,  and  that  Wesley’s 
‘‘Minutes”  and  Fletcher’s  “Checks”  were  greatly  needed. 
Fletcher  writes  : — 

''  For  some  years,  I have  suspected  there  is  more  imaginary  than 
unfeigned  faith  in  most  of  those  who  pass  for  believers.  With  a 
mixture  of  indignation  and  grief,  have  I seen  them  carelessly  follow  the 
stream  of  corrupt  nature,  against  which  they  should  have  manfully 
wrestled.  When  they  should  have  exclaimed  against  their  Antino- 
mianism,  I have  heard  them  cry  out  against  the  legality  of  their  wicked 
hearts  ; which,  they  said,  still  suggested  they  were  to  do  something  in 
order  to  salvation.  Glad  was  I,  therefore,  when  I had  attentively  con- 
sidered Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘ Minutes,’  to  find  they  were  levelled  at  the  very 
errors,  which  gave  rise  to  an  evil  I had  long  lamented  in  secret,  but 
had  wanted  courage  to  resist  and  attack.” 

Do  not  imagine.  Rev.  Sir,  I cry  up  God’s  law,  to  drown  the  late 
cries  of  heresy  and  a;postacy,  I appeal  to  matter  of  fact  and  to  your 
own  observations.  Consider  the  religious  world,  and  say  if  ‘ Anti- 
nomianism  ’ is  not,  in  general,  a motto  better  adapted  to  the  state  of 
professing  congregations,  societies,  families,  and  individuals,  than 
‘ Holiness  unto  the  LordJ* 

‘‘Begin  with  congregations^  and  cast  your  eyes  upon  the  hearers. 
In  general,  they  have  curious  ^itching  ears'  and  'will  not  endure 
sound  doctrine.'  They  say  they. ‘will  have  nothing  but  Christ;’  and 
who  could  blame  them  if  they  would  have  Christ  in  all  His  offices  ? 
Christ,  with  all  His  parables  and  sermons,  cautions  and  precepts, 
reproofs  and  expostulations,  exhortations  and  threatenings  ? Who 
would  find  fault  with  them,  if  they  would  have  Christ  with  His  poverty 
and  self-denial.  His  reproach  and  cross.  His  spirit  and  graces.  His 
prophets  and  apostles.  His  plain  apparel  and  mean  followers  ? But, 
alas  ! it  is  not  so.  They  will  have  what  they  please  of  Christ,  and 
that  too  as  they  please.  They  admire  Him  in  one  chapter,  and 
know  not  what  to  make  of  Him  in  another.  If  He  asserts  His 
authority  as  a Lawgiver,  they  are  ready  to  treat  Him  with  as  little 
ceremony  as  they  do  Moses.  If  He  says,  ‘ Kee^  my  commandments y 
I am  a King;'  like  the  Jews  of  old,  they  rise  against  the  awful 
declaration ; or  they  crown  Him  as  a surety,  the  better  to  ‘ set  Him 
at  nought ' as  a monarch.  If  He  adds  to  His  ministers,  ‘ Go,  and 
teach  all  nations  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I have  commanded 
you ; ’ they  complain,  ‘ This  is  the  law ; give  us  the  gos;pely  we  can 
relish  nothing  but  the  gospel.’  ” 

“ Hence  it  is  that  some  preachers  must  choose  comfortable  subjects 
to  please  their  hearers ; just  as  those,  who  make  an  entertainment  for 
nice  persons,  are  obliged  to  study  what  will  suit  their  difficult  taste.  A 


Age  42.] 


Prevalent  Antinomianism. 


213 


multitude  of  important  Scriptures  can  be  produced,  on  which  no  minister, 
who  is  unwilling  to  lose  his  reputation  as  an  evangelical  preacher,  must 
dare  to  speak  in  some  pulpits,  unless  it  is  to  explain  away  or  enervate 
their  meaning/’ 

''Whence  springs  this  almost  general  Antinomianism  of  our  con- 
gregations ? Shall  I conceal  the  sore  because  it  festers  in  my  own 
breast  ? Shall  I be  partial  ? No ! In  the  name  of  Him  who  is  no 
respecter  of  persons,  I will  confess  my  sin,  and  that  of  many  of  my 
brethren.  Though  I am  the  least  and  the  most  unworthy  of  them  all,  I 
will  follow  the  dictates  of  my  conscience,  and  use  the  authority  of  a 
minister  of  Christ. 

" Is  not  the  Antinomianism  of  hearers  fomented  by  that  of  preachers  ? 
Does  it  not  become  us  to  take  the  greatest  part  of  the  blame  upon 
ourselves,  according  to  the  old  adage,  ' Like  priest,  like  people  ’ ? Is 
it  surprising  that  some  of  us  should  have  an  Antinomian  audience  ? Do 
we  not  make  or  keep  it  so  ? When  did  we  preach  such  a practical 
sermon  as  that  of  our  Lord  on  the  mount,  or  write  such  close  letters  as 
the  epistles  of  St.  John  ? Alas  ! I doubt  it  is  but  seldom.  Not  living 
so  near  to  God  ourselves  as  we  should,  we  are  afraid  to  come  near  the 
consciences  of  our  people.  Some  prefer  popularity  to  plain-dealing. 
We  love  to  see  a crowd  of  worldly-minded  hearers,  rather  than  a 
^little  Jlock'  ^ a ;peculiar  ;peo^l6y  zealous  of  good  works, Luther’s 
advice  to  Melancthon,  ' So  preach  that  those  who  do  not  fall  out  of  love 
with  their  sins,  may  fall  out  with  thee,’  is  more  and  more  unfashionable. 
Under  pretence  of  drawing  our  hearers  by  love,  some  of  us  softly 
rock  the  cradle  of  carnal  security  in  which  they  sleep.  The  old 
Puritans  strongly  insisted  upon  personal  holiness,  and  the  first 
Methodists  upon  the  new  birth  ; but  these  doctrines  seem  to  grow  out 
of  date.  The  Gospel  is  cast  into  another  mould.  People,  it  seems,  may 
now  be  ^ in  Christ"^  without  being  ^ new  creatures,'  or  new  creatures 
without  casting  ^ old  things'  away.  They  may  be  God’s  children 
without  God’s  image  ; and  be  ' born  of  the  Spirit'  without  ' the  fruits 
of  the  Spirit'  If  our  unregenerate  hearers  get  orthodox  ideas  about 
the  way  of  salvation  in  their  heads,  evangelical  phrases  concerning 
Jesus’  love  in  their  mouths,  and  a warm  zeal  for  our  party  and  favourite 
forms  in  their  hearts,  without  any  more  ado,  we  help  them  to  rank 
themselves  among  the  children  of  God.  But,  alas  ! this  self-adoption 
into  the  family  of  Christ  will  no  more  pass  in  heaven,  than  self-impu- 
tation of  Christ’s  righteousness.” 

"How  few  of  our  celebrated  pulpits  are  there  where  more  has  not 
been  said,  at  times,  for  sin  than  against  it ! With  what  an  air  of 
positiveness  and  assurance  has  that  Barabbas,  that  murderer  of  Christ 
and  souls,  been  pleaded  for ! ' It  will  humble  us,  make  us  watchful, 

stir  up  our  diligence,  quicken  our  graces,  endear  Christ.’  That  is, 
in  plain  English,  pride  will  beget  humility,  sloth  will  spur  us  on  to 
diligence,  rust  will  brighten  our  armour,  and  unbelief,  the  very  soul  of 
every  sinful  temper,  is  to  do  the  work  of  faith  ! Jesus,  who  cleansed 
the  lepers  with  a word  or  a touch,  cannot,  with  all  the  force  of  His 


214 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


Spirit,  and  virtue  of  His  blood,  expel  the  leprosy  of  sin ; it  is  too 
inveterate.  Death,  that  foul  monster,  the  offspring  of  sin,  shall  have 
the  important  honour  of  killing  his  father.  This  is  confidently  asserted 
by  those  who  cry,  'Nothing  but  Christ!^  They  allow  Him  to  lop  off 
the  branches ; but  Death,  the  great  Saviour  Death,  is  to  destroy  the 
root  of  sin.  In  the  meantime,  the  tem^ple  of  God  shall  have  agreement 
with  idols,  and  Christ  concord  with  Belial : the  Lamb  of  God  shall 
lie  down  with  the  roaring  Lion  in  our  heart B 

> "To  speak  the  melancholy  truth,  how  few  individuals  are  free  from 
practical  Antinomianism ! Setting  aside  their  attendance  on  the 
ministry  of  the  Word,  where  is  the  material  difference  between  several 
of  our  genteel  believers  and  other  people  ? Do  not  we  see  the  sumptuous 
furniture  in  their  apartments,  and  fashionable  elegance  in  their  dress  ? 
What  sums  of  money  do  they  frequently  lay  out  in  costly  superfluities 
to  adorn  their  persons,  houses,  and  gardens ! In  our  fashionable 
churches  and  chapels,  you  may  find  people  professing  to  believe  the 
Bible,  who  so  conform  to  this  present  world  as  to  wear  gold,  pearls,  and 
precious  stones,  when  no  distinction  of  office  or  state  obliges  them  to  it, 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  words  of  two  Apostles,  St.  Peter  and  St. 
Paul.  Multitudes  of  professors,  far  from  being  convinced  of  their  sin 
in  this  respect,  ridicule  Mr.  Wesley  for  bearing  his  testimony  against 
it.  The  opposition  he  dares  to  make  to  that  growing  branch  of  vanity 
affords  matter  of  pious  mirth  to  a thousand  Antinomians.  Isaiah  could 
openly  reprove  the  haughty  daughters  of  Zion,  who  walked  with 
stretched  forth  necks,  wanton  eyes,  and  tinkling  feet:  he  could 
expose  the  bravery  of  their  fashionable  ornaments,  their  round 
tires  like  the  moon,  their  chams,  bracelets,  head-bands,  rings  and 
ear-7nngs ; but  some  of  our  humble  Christian  ladies  will  not  bear  a 
reproof  from  Mr.  Wesley  on  the  head  of  dress.  They  even  laugh  at 
him  as  a pitiful  legalist,  and  yet,  oh,  the  inconsistency  of  the  Anti- 
nomian  spirit ! they  call  Isaiah  the  evangelical ;pro^het ! 

" Finery  is  often  attended  with  an  expensive  table,  at  least  with  such 
delicacies  as  our  purse  can  reach.  St.  Paul  ke;pt  his  body  under,  and 
was  in  fastings  often  ; and  our  Lord  gives  us  directions  about  the 
proper  manner  of  fasting.  But  the  apostle  did  not  kiww  the  easy 
way  to  heaven  taught  by  Dr.  Crisp ; and  our  Lord  did  not  ap;prove  of 
it,  or  He  would  have  saved  Himself  the  trouble  of  His  directions.  In 
general,  we  look  upon  fasting  much  as  we  do  upon  penitential  flagellation. 
Both  equally  raise  our  pity  ; we  leave  them  both  to  popish  devotees. 
Some  of  our  good  old  Church  people  will  yet  fast  on  Good  Friday ; but 
our  fashionable  believers  begin  to  cast  away  that  last  scrap  of  self- 
denial.  Their  faith,  which  should  produce,  animate,  and  regulate 
works  of  mortification,  goes  a shorter  way  to  work ; it  explodes  them 
all.’^ 

Fletcher  continues  to  write  in  the  same  strain,  through 
many  succeeding  pages  ; but  one  more  extract  must  suffice. 

" If  these  shall  go  into  eternal  ^punishment  i if  such  will  be  the  end 


Age  42.] 


Prevalent  Antinomianism, 


215 


of  all  the  impenitent  Nicolaitans  ; if  our  churches  and  chapels  swarm 
with  them  ; if  they  crowd  our  communion  tables  ; if  they  are  found  in 
most  of  our  houses,  and  too  many  of  our  pulpits  ; if  the  seeds  of  their 
fatal  disorder  are  in  all  our  breasts ; if  they  produce  Antinomianism 
around  us  in  all  its  forms  ; if  we  see  bold  Antinomians  in  ^rinci^ple^ 
bare-faced  Antinomians  xvi^ractice^  and  Pharisaical  Antinomians^^ 

who  speak  well  of  the  law,  to  break  it  with  greater  advantage, — should 
not  every  one  examine  himself  whether  he  is  in  the  faith,  and  whether 
he  has  a holy  Christ  in  his  heart,  as  well  as  a sweet  fesus  upon  his 
tongue ; lest  he  should  one  day  swell  the  tribe  of  Antinomian  repro- 
bates ? Does  it  not  become  every  minister  of  Christ  to  drop  his  preju- 
dices, and  consider  whether  he  ought  not  to  imitate  the  old  watchman, 
who,  fifteen  months  ago,  gave  a legal  alarm  to  all  the  watchmen  that 
are  in  connexion  with  him  ? And  should  we  not  do  the  Church  excellent 
service,  if,  agreeing  to  lift  up  our  voices  against  the  common  enemy, 
we  gave  God  no  rest  in  prayer,  and  our  hearers  in  preaching,  till  we  all 
did  our  first  works,  and  our  latter  end,  like  Job’s,  exceeded  our 
beginning? 

Near  forty  years  ago,  some  of  the  ministers  of  Christ,  in  our  Church, 
were  called  out  of  the  extreme  of  self-righteousness.  Flying  from  it, 
we  have  run  into  the  opposite,  with  equal  violence.  Now  that  we  have 
learned  wisdom  by  what  we  have  suffered  in  going  beyond  the  limits  of 
truth  both  ways,  let  us  return  to  a just  scriptural  medium.  Let  us  equally 
maintain  the  two  evangelical  axioms  on  which  the  Gospel  is  founded  : 
I.  ‘ All  our  salvation  is  of  God,  by  free  grace,  through  the  alone  merits 
of  Christ.’  And,  2.  ^All  our  damnation  is  of  ourselves,  through  our 
avoidable  unfaithfulness.’  ” 

Fletcher  s pictures  are  dark  : I incline  to  think  a little  too 
dark,  though  I cannot  prove  they  are.  At  all  events,  were 
existing  facts  such  as  he  states  them  to  have  been,  it  was 
high  time  to  sound  an  alarm  in  Zion. 

In  a postscript  to  his  ‘‘  Three  Letters,”  Fletcher  refers  to 
a pamphlet  published  by  Richard  Hill,  Esq.,  respecting  a 
conversation  which  he  and  others  had  held  with  a monk  ip 
Paris.  Having  quoted  Mr.  Hill’s  remark,  that,  according  to 


^ It  may  be  well  to  say,  once  for  all,  that  all  these  quotations,  with 
their  differences  of  type,  are  taken  from  the  first  editions  of  Fletcher’s 
publications.  The  differences  are  not  preserved  in  recent  editions. 

^ Its  title  was  ‘'A  Conversation  between  Richard  Hill,  Esq.,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Madan,  and  Father  Walsh,  Superior  of  a Convent  of  Benedictine 
Monks  at  Paris,  held  at  the  same  Convent,  July  13,  1771,  in  the  presence 
of  Thomas  Powis,  Esq.,  and  others,  relative  to  some  Doctrinal  Minutes 
advanced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley  and  others,  at  a Conference 
held  in  London,  August  7,  1770.  To  which  are  added  some  Remarks 
by  the  Editor,”  Fletcher’s  name  is  not  mentioned  in  the  pamphlet; 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1771. 


216 


the  monk,  Popery  is  about  the  mid-way  between  Protestant- 
ism and  Mr.  J.  Wesley, Fletcher  proceeds  to  say : — 

desire  to  be  confronted  with  all  the  pious  Protestant  divines. 
But,  who  would  believe  it  ? the  suffrage  of  a papist  is  brought  against 
us  ! Astonishing  ! that  our  opposers  should  think  it  worth  their  while 
to  raise  one  recruit  against  us  in  the  immense  city  of  Paris,  where  fifty 
thousand  might  be  raised  against  the  Bible  itself ! 

‘‘  So  long  as  Christ,  the  prophets,  and  apostles  are  for  us,  together 
with  the  multitude  of  the  Puritan  divines  of  the  last  century,  we  shall 
smile  at  an  army  of  Popish  friars.  The  knotted  whips,  that  hang  by 
their  side,  will  no  more  frighten  us  from  our  Bibles,  than  the  i^se  dixit 
of  a Benedictine  monk  will  make  us  explode,  as  heretical,  propositions 
which  are  demonstrated  to  be  scriptural. 

I hope  the  gentlemen  concerned  in  the  ‘ Conversation,’  lately  pub- 
lished, will  excuse  the  liberty  of  this  postscript.  I reverence  their  piety, 
rejoice  in  their  labours,  and  honour  their  warm  zeal  for  the  Protestant 
cause  ; but  that  very  zeal,  if  not  accompanied  with  a close  attention  to 
every  part  of  the  Gospel  truth,  may  betray  them  into  mistakes,  which 
may  spread  as  far  as  their  respectable  names.  I think  it  therefore  my 
duty  to  publish  these  strictures,  lest  any  of  my  readers  should  pay  more 
regard  to  the  good-natured  friar,  who  has  been  pressed  into  the  service 
of  Dr.  Crisp,  than  to  St.  John,  St.  Paul,  St.  James,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
on  whose  plain  declarations  I have  shown  that  the  ‘Minutes’”  (of 
Mr.  Wesley)  “are  founded.” 

So  ends  all  that  need  be  said  here  concerning  Fletcher’s 
“ Second  Check  to  Antinomianism.”  To  appreciate  its  style, 
its  temper,  and  its  arguments,  the  reader  must  peruse  it  for 
himself ; and,  by  doing  so,  his  mind  will  be  enriched,  and 
his  soul  profited. 

An  extract  from  one  of  Fletcher’s  letters  may  fitly  close 
this  section  of  his  biography.  The  letter  was  addressed  to 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Benson,  and  was  dated  “December  5,  1771.” 

“ There  is  undoubtedly  such  a thing  as  the  full  assurance  of  faith. 
Be  not  discouraged  on  account  of  thousands,  who  stop  short  of  it.  It 
is  our  own  fault  if  we  do  not  attain  it.  God  would  give  us  ample  satis- 
faction if  we  did  but  deeply  feel  our  wants.  Both  you  and  I want  a 


but  because  he  chose  to  refer  to  it  in  his  “ Second  Check  to  Antino- 
mianism,”  it  is  here  introduced  to  the  reader’s  notice.  Hereafter,  in 
order  to  avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  a repetition  of  the  history  of  the 
Calvinian  controversy,  as  published  in  the  “ Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,” 
no  publications  on  the  subject  will  be  discussed,  except  those  in  which 
Fletcher  was  attacked,  or  which  he  answered. — L.  T. 


Age  42.] 


Letter  to  yoseph  Benso?i. 


217 


deeper  awakening,  which  will  produce  a death  to  outward  things  and 
speculative  knowledge.  Let  us  shut  our  eyes  to  the  gilded  clouds  with- 
out us  : let  us  draw  inward,  and  search  after  God,  if  haply  we  may  find 
Him.  Let  us  hold  fast  our  confidence,  though  we  are  often  constrained 
against  hope,  to  believe  in  hope.  But  let  us  not  rest  in  our  confidence, 
as  thousands  do  ; let  it  help  us  to  struggle  and  wait,  till  He  come.  Let 
us  habituate  ourselves  to  live  inwardly.  This  will  solemnize  us,  and 
prevent  our  trifling  with  the  things  of  God.  We  may  be  thankful  for 
what  we  have  without  resting  in  it.  We  may  strive,  and  yet  not  trust 
in  our  striving;  but  expect  all  from  Divine  grace.’'  ^ 

In  such  a frame  of  mind  and  heart  Fletcher  carried  on  his 
polemic  warfare. 


Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


2i8 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THIRD  CHECK  TO  ANTINOMIANISMI 
1772. 

WHEN  Fletcher  finished  his  ‘^Second  Check  to  Anti- 
nomianism/'  in  ‘‘  Three  Letters ''  to  Walter  Shirley, 
he  began  a ‘‘  Vindication  of  the  Doctrine  of  Christian  Per- 
fection/^ This,  however,  for  a time,  was  laid  aside  ; but  was 
afterwards  completed,  and  embodied  in  his  ‘‘  Last  Check  to 
Antinomianism/'  The  reason  for  this  postponement  was  a 
somewhat  sudden  determination  to  write  upon  the  Unitarian 
Controversy,  which  was  now  as  prominent  as  the  Calvinian 
one.  A brief  biographical  episode  will  explain  the  matter 
more  fully. 

Edward  Elwall  was  born  at  Sedgley,  in  Staffordshire. 
He  settled  in  business  at  Wolverhampton,  where  he  acquired 
the  reputation  of  great  integrity  in  his  dealings.  He  had 
not  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a learned  education,  but  he 
possessed  a serious  and  inquisitive  turn  of  mind,  and  had 
good  natural  abilities.  One  of  his  first  publications  was 
intended  to  prove  that  the  fourth  commandment,  appointing 
the  seventh  day  of  the  week  to  be  observed  as  the  Sabbath, 
was  binding  on  all  generations.  As  long  as  he  continued 
in  business,  he  constantly  shut  up  his  shop  on  that  day,  and 
as  regularly  opened  it  on  the  succeeding  one.  For  this  he 
was  called  a Jew.  About  the  year  1714,  he  became  dis- 
tinguished as  an  Unitarian,  and  published,  ^‘A  true  Testi- 
mony for  God  and  His  sacred  Law,  being  a Defence  of  the 
first  Commandment  of  God,  against  all  Trinitarians  under 
Heaven/'  This  drew  on  him  the  resentment  of  the  neigh- 


Age  42.]  Unpublished  Letter  to  Rev.  Walter  Sello7i.  219 


bouring  clergy,  who  procured  an  indictment  against  him  for 
heresy  and  blasphemy,  on  which  he  was  tried  at  Stafford 
Assizes.  He  pleaded  his  own  cause,  and  was  acquitted. 
After  this,  he  removed  to  London,  and  became  a member  of 
the  Seventh-day  Baptist  Church  at  Mill-yard,  Goodman’s 
Fields.  Towards  the  end  of  life,  he  attended  the  meetings 
of  the  Quakers,  and  was  sometimes  permitted  to  speak  at 
them.  He  died  in  London,  at  an  advanced  age,  about  the 
year  1745. 

Elwalls  work  “ against  all  Trinitarians  under  Heaven  ” 
had  recently  been  re-published,  and  Fletcher  was  requested 
to  answer  it.  Hence  the  following,  hitherto  unpublished, 
letter,  addressed  to  “the  Rev.  Walter  Selion,  at  Ledsham, 
near  Ferry-Bridge,  Yorkshire.” 


“ Madeley,  January  7,  1772. 

‘‘My  Dear  Friend, — I thank  you  for  yours.  I hope  Glazebrook* 
will  be  more  moderate,  on  account  of  some  rubs  which  his  new  Cal- 
vinistic  zeal  has  procured  him. 

“My  reason  for  troubling  you  soon  with  an  answer  is  to  make  a 

request.  I have  laid  by  my  Third which  is  a vindication  of  the 

doctrine  of  Christian  perfection.  A pamphlet  (the  third  edition)  has 
lately  been  published  at  Birmingham,  and  meets  with  great  success. 
The  author  is  E.  Elwall,  a Socinian  Quaker,  who  was  tried  for  blas- 
phemy at  Stafford,  and  came  off  with  flying  colours,  after  fully  denying 
the  Godhead  of  Christ,  and  His  atonement. 

“ Some  serious  people  have  desired  me  to  answer  the  book.  As  I 
suppose  your  Dr.  Freese^'*  (sic)  “ is  one  of  his  stamp,  I want  to  see  by 
your  candle  as  well  as  my  own.  Could  you  send  me,  by  the  post,  what 
you  have  published  against  him  ? By  cutting  the  margin  close,  you 
might  bring  it  to  a tolerable  size  for  a packet ; and  I should  not  grudge 
paying  the  postage.  If  you  cannot  do  this,  send  me,  at  least,  your 
best  answer  to  the  objection  taken  from  John  xvii.  3,  and  to  the  words 
^ only  God'  which  seem  to  exclude  Jesus  Christ. 

“We  must  fight  the  Antinomians  while  the  Calvinists  put  weapons 
into  their  hands  against  the  truth.  Mr.  Hill  has  taken  Mr.  Wesley  in 
hand  very  roughly.  I have  been  with  him.  His  answer  to  my  ‘Vindi- 
cation ’ is  expected  every  day,  and  is  out,  I suppose,  in  London.  God 


^ The  poor  collier  whom  Fletcher  so  greatly  befriended  at  Madeley, 
and  who  was  one  of  the  first  students  at  Trevecca,  in  1768. 

The  words  are  illegible,  but,  no  doubt,  his  “ Third  Check  to  Antino- 
mianism  is  meant. 

^ Probably  meant  for  the  celebrated  Dr.  Price,  of  whom  more  will 
have  to  be  said  anon, 


2 20 


Wesky  s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


give  us  wisdom  ! Set  your  razor  against  Mason,  for  what  we  mean  as 
keenness  (which  is  allowable)  is  directly  construed  as  bitterness. 

When  you  send  the  packet,  put  upon  the  direction,  ^ Not  by  London^ 
but  by  4-  Post  Bag,  Manchester  and  Salo;p^'  or  else  they  will  make  me 
pay  double. 

‘‘I  preach  much,  and  see  little  fruit.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  not  given 
among  us.  These  are  hard  times.  God  help  us  to  more  gospel  and 
life,  but  not  my  lady’s  gospel ! 

I am  yours  in  a hurry, 

'‘J.  Fletcher.” 

Not  to  mention  other  matters  referred  to  in  this  letter, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  Fletcher  now  began  to  write  his 
Anti-Socinian  Treatises  ; but,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  he 
never  finished  them.  Other  things,  even  more  pressing, 
claimed  his  attention,  and  he  was  obliged  to  postpone  his 
attack  on  the  citadel  of  religious  infidelity, 

‘‘  I long  to  be  out  of  controversy,”  said  Fletcher  to  J oseph 
Benson,  in  a letter  dated  February  1772,^  and  yet  he  con- 
tinued it.  He  could  not  help  himself  To  say  nothing  of 
the  duty  he  owed  to  Christ  and  Gospel  truth,  it  was  im- 
possible, at  present,  to  retire  from  the  field  of  conflict  with- 
out exposing  himself  to  the  taunt  of  recreant  timidity. 
Besides,  though  his  opponents  had  been  vanquished,  they 
would,  in  that  case,  have  appeared  victorious.  No  doubt, 
also,  he  was  encouraged  to  proceed  by  his  bespattered  but 
beloved  friend  Wesley.  In  a letter  to  Lady  Maxwell, 
Wesley  wrote : — 


‘‘London,  February  8,  1772. 

“ My  Dear  Lady, — I commend  you  for  meddling  with  points  of  con- 
troversy as  little  as  possible.  It  is  abundantly  easier  to  lose  our  love  in 
that  rough  field,  than  to  find  truth.  This  consideration  has  made  me 
exceedingly  thankful  to  God  for  giving  me  a respite  from  polemical 
labours.  I am  glad  He  has  given  to  others  both  the  power  and  the  will 
to  answer  them  that  trouble  me  ; so  that  I may  not  always  be  forced  to 
hold  my  weapons  in  one  hand,  while  I am  building  with  the  other.  I 
rejoice,  likewise,  not  only  in  the  abilities,  but  in  the  temper,  of  Mr. 
Fletcher.  He  writes  as  he  lives.  I cannot  say  that  I know  such 
another  clergyman  in  England  or  Ireland.  He  is  all  fire,  but  it  is  the 
fire  of  love.  His  writings,  like  his  constant  conversation,  breathe 
nothing  else,  to  those  who  read  him  with  an  impartial  eye.  And, 


^ Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher,” 


Age  42.]  Fletcher" s Letter  to  the  Dublin  Methodists, 


221 


although  Mr.  Shirley  scruples  not  to  charge  him  with  using  subtilty  and 
metaphysical  distinctions,  yet  he  abundantly  clears  himself  of  this 
charge,  in  the  ^ Second  Check  to  Antinomianism.^  Such  the  last  letters 
are  styled,  and  with  great  propriety ; for  such  they  have  really  been . 
They  have  given  a considerable  check  to  those  who  were  everywhere 
making  void  the  law  through  faith  ; setting  ' the  righteousness  of  Christ  ’ 
in  opposition  to  the  law  of  Christ,  and  teaching  that  without  holiness 
any  man  may  see  the  Lord.”^ 

All,  however,  were  not  of  Wesley’s  opinion.  In  Ireland, 
Walter  Shirley  was  a great  favourite  among  the  Methodists, 
for  there  he  had  preached  with  much  success.  Fletcher’s 
first  and  second  Checks  ” were  addressed  to  Shirley  ; and 
the  Irish  Methodists,  who,  as  yet,  had  neither  heard  nor  seen 
their  author,  were  divided  in  their  sentiments  respecting 
them.  The  Dublin  Society  wrote  two  letters  to  him,  in 
answer  to  which  he  sent  them  the  following  : — 

To  the  Methodist  Society  at  Dublin. 

''Madeley,  March,  1772. 

''  My  Dear  Brethren, — Mercy  and  love  be  multiplied  unto  you, 
from  Him  who  was  and  is  to  come,  the  Almighty ! 

I should  have  acknowledged  before  now  the  favour  of  the  two  letters 
with  which  you  honoured  me,  if  I had  not  conveyed  my  thanks  to  you 
immediately  by  means  of  brother  Morgan. ^ But  thanks  at  second-hand 
do  not  satisfy  my  gratitude ; permit  me,  therefore,  to  present  them,  if 
not  in  person,  at  least  by  some  grateful  lines  personally  written. 

I am  much  obliged  to  those  of  you  who  approve  my  little  attempt 
to  vindicate  practical  religion  and  the  character  of  an  eminent  servant 
of  Christ,  who  ministered  unto  you  in  holy  things,  and  whom  some  of 
our  mistaken  friends  in  England  exposed  as  the  author  of  dreadful 
heresy.  The  thanks  which  some  of  you  unexpectedly  bestowed  upon 
me  on  that  occasion,  I have  laid  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  to  whom  all  praise 
belongs,  who  is  the  author  of  every  good  gift,  and  from  whom  comes  all 
the  help  done  upon  the  earth. 

When  I took  up  my  pen,  I aimed  at  discharging  my  duty  towards 
God  and  His  misapprehended  truth ; towards  my  honoured  father  in 
Christ,  Mr.  Wesley,  and  his  misunderstood  ‘ Minutes  ’ ; and  though  all 
the  world  should  have  blamed  me,  they  would  never  have  robbed  me  of 
the  satisfaction  of  having  at  least  attempted  to  clear  my  conscience. 

‘‘The  manner  in  which  part  of  you  have  refused  me  their  thanks,  is 
too  civil  and  brotherly  not  to  deserve  mine.  I wish  many  of  our  English 


* Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xii.,  p.  326. 

2 One  of  Wesley’s  itinerant  preachers,  well-read  and  popular,  but 
now  enervated,  and  settled  in  Dublin. 


222 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1772. 


brethren  had  been  as  moderate  as  you  in  their  disapprobation  of  my 
letters  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shirley.  You  will  see  in  a ‘Second  Check  to 
Antinomianism  ’ some  things  that  may  reconcile  you  to  the  first ; and 
I have  just  sent  to  the  press  a ‘Third  Check/  to  what  appears  to  me 
the  favourite  delusion  of  the  Church  ; which  I trust  will  cast  more  light 
on  the  delicate  subject  about  which  we  divide. 

“ If  we  cannot  see  things  in  the  same  light,  I hope  we  never  shall,  I 
beg  we  never  may,  disagree  in  love. 

“ I am  glad  you  agreed  to  disagree  about  the  giving  or  refusing  me 
your  undeserved  thanks.  Let  every  little  rub  of  opposition  heighten 
our  love  ; every  little  clashing  of  sentiment  make  the  heavenly  spark 
show  itself,  and  kindle  our  souls  into  that  charity  which  hopeth  all  things, 
endureth  all  things,  thinketh  no  evil,  and  is  not  provoked. 

“ If  I have  been  obliged  to  bear  a little  hardly  upon  my  dear  honoured 
brother,  Mr.  Shirley,  I beg  that  nothing  I have  written  to  him  on  account 
of  his  precipitancy,  rashness,  or  hurry,  may  prevent  you  from  looking 
upon  him  with  the  love  and  respect  due  to  a minister  of  Christ.  Recom- 
mending him  and  myself  to  your  prayers,  and  taking  the  liberty  to 
recommend  to  you  mutual  forbearance,  a daily  increase  of  brotherly 
love,  and  a continual  growth  in  the  genuine  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  I 
remain,  my  dear  brethren,  your  obliged,  affectionate,  and  obedient 
brother  and  servant, 

“ John  Fletcher.”  ^ 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  at  the  commencement  of 
the  year  1772,  Fletcher  was  writing  his  “ Vindication  of  the 
Doctrine  of  Christian  Perfection  ; ''  and  that  this  was  laid 
aside  for  the  purpose  of  writing  against  Socinianism.  Very 
soon,  however,  he  had  to  devote  his  attention  to  another 
subject.  In  the  foregoing  letter,  dated  ‘‘March,  1772,'’  he 
tells  the  Methodist  Society  at  Dublin  that  he  had  sent  his 
“ Third  Check  to  Antinomianism  ''  to  the  press  ; and  this 
is  confirmed  by  the  following  extract  from  a letter  by 
Wesley  to  his  brother  Charles  : — 

“ Birmingham,  March  17,  1772. 

“ I am  to-day  to  meet  Mr.  Fletcher  at  Billbrook.  Part  of  the  ‘ Third 
Check  ’ is  printing ; the  rest  I have  ready.  In  this  he  draws  the  sword 
and  throws  away  the  scabbard.  Yet,  I doubt  not,  they  will  forgive  him 
all,  if  he  will  but  promise  to  write  no  more.”  ^ 

Fletcher’s  parochial  duties  were  heavy,  and  yet  he  seems 


^ “ Thirteen  Original  Letters  written  by  the  Rev.  T.  Fletcher.”  Bath, 
1791,  p.  22. 

^ Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xii.,  p.  128. 


Age  42.]  Fletcher^ s Third  Check  to  AntinomianismF  223 


to  have  written  his  “ Third  Check  to  Antinomianism  in 
about  a month.  It  must  have  been  a strain  to  accomplish 
this.  The  work  is  no  flimsy  production,  but  is  full  of 
Scriptural  arguments,  which  could  not  be  framed,  arranged, 
and  adequately  expressed  without  a vast  amount  of  labour; 
and  the  book  itself  was  of  no  mean  size,  consisting,  as  it  did, 
of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  small  typed  and  closely  printed 
pages.  The  following  was  its  title  : A Third  Check  to 

Antinomianism  ; in  a Letter  to  the  Author  of  ‘ Pietas 
Oxoniensis  : ' By  the  Vindicator  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley’s 
Minutes.  ‘ Reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long-suffering 
and  Scriptural  doctrine  ; for  the  time  will  come  when  they 
will  not  endure  sound  doctrine,’  2 Tim.  iv.  2,  3.  ‘ Where- 

fore rebuke  them  sharply^  that  they  may  be  sound  iit  the  faith; 
but  let  brotherly  love  continue^  Tit.  i.  13,  Heb.  xiii.  i.  Bristol: 
Printed  by  W.  Pine  in  Wine  Street,  1772.” 

Why  was  it  written  and  published  } Fletcher  had  replied 
to  the  “ Circular  Letter  ” and  the  Narrative  ” of  Shirley, 
and  in  doing  so  had  vindicated  Wesley’s  Minutes.”  Shirley 
was  now  silent,  but  other  antagonists  started  up.  A small 
8 VO.  pamphlet  was  published,  with  the  title  ‘‘  A Letter  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher,  of  Madeley,  on  the  Differences  sub- 
sisting between  him  and  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Mr.  Shirley.” 
The  author  subscribed  himself  ‘‘  An  enemy  to  no  man,  but  a 
friend  to  religion;”  and  his  letter  was  dated  “ Bath,  February 
3,  1772.”  This  religious  gentleman  alleged  that,  under  the 
existing  circumstances,  the  publication  of  Fletcher’s  answer 
to  Shirley’s  ‘‘  Circular  Letter  ” “ was  highly  censurable,  yea, 
criminal.”  He  accused  Pletcher  of  “ wantonly  scattering 
firebrands,  arrows,  and  death ; ” his  defence  of  Wesley’s 
‘‘  Minutes  ” was  ‘‘  flimsy;”  and  he  was  actuated  by  “ personal 
envy  or  enmity  more  than  by  a love  to  Christ  and  a godly 
zeal  to  promote  truth.”  Fletcher,  properly  enough,  declined 
to  notice  the  virulent  and  frothy  pamphlet  of  this  Bath 
religionist  ; but  another  publication,  issued  about  the  same 
time,  demanded  his  attention.  Its  author  was  his  friend  and 
neighbour,  Richard  Hill,  Esq.,  and  its  title  as  follows:  “ Five 
Letters  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  F r,  relative  to  his  Vindica- 

tion of  the  Minutes  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Wesley. 
Intended  chiefly  for  the  comfort  of  mourning  backsliders. 


224 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


and  such  as  may  have  been  distressed  and  perplexed  by 
reading  Mr.  Wesley's  Minutes,  or  the  Vindication  of  them. 
By  a Friend.  London  : 1772.”  8 vo.,  40  pp.^ 

Mr.  Hill’s  first  letter  is  dated  ‘‘December  2,  1771.”^  His 
pamphlet  is  remarkable  for  two  things — 07ily  two  : — First, 
the  highest  Christian  urbanity  towards  Fletcher ; and  secondy, 
the  writer’s  curious  theology.  A few  extracts  from  Mr.  Hill’s 
letters  will  suffice  to  show  that  Fletcher’s  task  of  answering 
his  courteous  opponent  was  not  a difficult  undertaking. 

^ ‘ God  alone  knows  the  sorrow  of  heart  wherewith  I address  you  ; and 
how  much  the  fear  of  casting  stumbling-blocks  before  some  who  are 
really  sincere,  and  the  apprehensions  of  giving  malicious  joy  to  others 
who  desire  no  greater  satisfaction  than  to  see  the  children  of  the  Prince 
of  Peace  divided  among  themselves,  had  well-nigh  prevailed  upon  me 
to  pour  out  my  soul  in  silence  instead  of  publicly  taking  up  the  pen 
against  you.  But  when  I perceived  the  solicitude  with  which  Mr. 
Wesley’s  preachers  recommended  your  letters  to  Mr.  Shirley  in  their 
respective  congregations,  and,  above  all,  how  many  of  God’s  people 
had  been  perplexed  and  distressed  by  reading  them, — I say,  when  I 
perceived  this  to  be  the  case,  and  had  prayed  to  the  Giver  of  all  wisdom 
for  direction,  I could  not  but  esteem  it  my  indispensable  duty  to  send 
out  a few  observations  on  your  book,  especially  as  no  other  person,  that 
I know  of,  had  made  any  reply  to  the  doctrinal  parts  of  it  from  the  time 
of  its  publication.  With  regard  to  the  ' Circular  Letter  ' I shall 
studiously  avoid  the  very  mention  of  it ; as  whether  the  sending  of  it 
were  in  itself  a wrong  step  or  a right  one,  is  of  no  consequence  in  the 
matter  of  salvation.  Neither  shall  I follow  you  page  by  page,  but 
taking  the  ‘ Minutes  ’ in  the  order  they  stand,  shall  dwell  upon  them, 
more  or  less,  as  appears  necessary.” 

The  plan  here  propounded  is  carried  out,  but  want  of 
space  renders  it  impossible  to  give  an  outline  of  Mr.  Hill’s 
theology.  The  following  quotations  must  be  taken  as 
specimens  of  others  which  might  be  given  : — 

A second  edition,  revised  and  much  enlarged,”  was  published 
about  the  same  time  as  Fletcher’s  ‘‘Third  Check.”  The  first  edition 
consisted  of  forty  pages,  the  second  of  fifty-two.  There  is  nothing  of 
importance,  however,  in  the  second  issue  which  is  not  in  the  first, 
except  a few  acrid  references  to  Wesley.  The  following  may  be  taken 
as  a specimen  : “I  shall  make  no  remarks  upon  the  poor,  loose,  flimsy 
manner  in  which  the  ‘ Minutes  ’ are  worded  ; but  I cannot  help  observing 
that  it  seems  almost  impossible  for  Mr.  Wesley  to  write  a page  without 
contradicting  himself  ” (p.  50). 

^ In  the  second  edition  it  is  dated  “ Feb.,  1772.” 


Age  42.]  Mr,  Richard  HiWs  Five  Letters  to  Fletcher,  225 


Your  arg-ument  is  this  ; that,  ^believing  is  previous  to  justification.^ 
But,  dear  Sir,  this  is  begging  the  question  ; and,  permit  me  to  say,  that 
I deny  the  assertion.  Waving  all  disputes  concerning  eternal  justifica- 
tion, or  justification  in  the  mind  and  purpose  of  God,  I maintain,  that,, 
believing  cannot  possibly  be  previous  to  justification ; and  you  must 
yourself  maintain  the  same,  unless  you  will  adopt  the  phrase  of  an 
unjustified  believer ; whereas  the  Holy  Ghost  teaches  that  all  who 
believe  are  justified.  We  may  as  well  suppose  that  a man  eats  before 
he  takes  any  food,  and  that  he  sees  before  he  receives  the  light  of  the 
sun,  as  that  he  believes  before  he  is  justified  : for  believing,  and  feeding 
upon  Christ,  are  not  more  inseparably  connected  than  eating  and  taking 
bodily  food,  or  than  seeing  and  receiving  light  are  inseparably  con- 
nected. Yea,  true  faith  can  no  more  subsist  without  its  object  Christ, 
than  there  can  be  a marriage  without  a husband.  From  hence,  I con- 
clude, that  the  doctrine  of  believing  before  justification,  and  thereby 
making  the  grace  of  faith  a conditional  work,  is  not  less  contrary  to, 
reason  than  it  is  to  Scripture  itself.” 

I most  sincerely  abhor  the  Minute,  * that  we  are  every  hour  and 
every  moment  pleasing  or  displeasing  to  God,  according  to  our  works  ; 
according  to  the  whole  of  our  inward  tempers,  and  our  outward  beha- 
viour ; ’ and,  yet,  I equally  abhor  the  assertion,  ^ that  David  did  not 
disj) lease  God  more  when  he  committed  adultery  with  Bathsheba,  and 
imbrued  his  hands  in  her  husband’s  blood,  than  when  he  danced  before 
the  ark.’  I know,  from  Scripture  authority,  that  when  David  committed 
the  sin  you  allude  to,  the  thing  which  he  had  done  displeased  the  Lord. 
But,  though  I believe  that  David’s  sin  displeased  the  Lord,.,  must  I 
therefore  believe  that  person  came  under  the  curse  of  the  law  ? 

and  that,  because  he  was  ungrateful,  God,  whose  gifts  and  callings  are 
without  repentance,  was  unfaithful  ? Surely  no.  David  was  still  a son, 
though  a perverse  one.  Like  backsliding  Ephraim,  he  was  still  a plea- 
sant child,  though  he  went  on  frowardly.” 

Either  Christ  has  fulfilled  the  whole  law,  and  borne  the  curse,  or 
He  has  not.  If  He  has  not,  no  soul  can  ever  be  saved ; if  He  has,  then 
all  debts  and  claims  against  His  people,  be  they  more  or  be  they  less, 
be  they  small  or  be  they  great,  be  they  before  or  be  they  after  conversion, 
are  for  ever  and  for  ever  cancelled.  All  trespasses  are  forgiven  thenii 
They  are  justified  from  all  things.  They  already  have  everlasting  life. 
They  are  now  (virtually)  sat  down  in  heavenly  places  with  Christ  their 
Forerunner ; and  as  soon  shall  Satan  pluck  His  crown  from  His  head, 
as  His  purchase  from  His  hand.” 

Such  were  some  of  the  absurd  and  pernicious  doctrines 
propounded  by  Mr.  Hill,  and  which  Fletcher  felt  it  his  duty 
to  refute.  Towards  Wesley,  there  is,  in  Mr.  Hill’s  pamphlet, 
an  occasional  stroke  of  bitterness,  as,  for  instance,  where  he 
asserts  that  “ there  is  a much  nearer  resemblance  between 
the  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  Wesley  and  mother  Church ’> 


IS 


226 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


(Popery)  “than  the  popish  Superior  chose  to  acknowledge;”^ 
but  towards  Fletcher,  Mr.  Hill,  throughout,  displays  the  most 
respectful  kindness,  and  concludes  his  fifth  and  last  letter 
thus : — 

And  now,  dear  Sir,  I cannot  conclude  these  letters  without  express- 
ing my  earnest  desire  that  the  contents  of  them  may  never  cause  any 
decrease  of  love  and  Christian  fellowship  between  us.  Pardon  then, 
my  dear  Sir,  I ardently  beseech  you,  O pardon  all  that  you  have  found 
amiss  in  the  unworthy  author  of  these  epistles ; and  much,  I am  sure, 
your  charity  will  have  to  overlook.  If  we  cannot  see  things  alike  now, 

I hope  the  time  is  not  far  off  when  we  shall  be  thoroughly  united  in 
sentiment,  as  well  as  in  heart,  and  each  of  us,  casting  our  crowns  before 
the  throne,  shall  join  our  voices  in  that  one  harmonious  song  of  praise, 
with  which  the  regions  of  bliss  shall  echo  without  intermission,  and 
without  end,  ‘ Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and  blessing.^ 

‘ Blessing,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  Him  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever.’ 

In  the  meanwhile,  let  me  acknowledge  before  the  world  that  there 
is  not  a man  living  to  whom  I am  more  indebted  for  repeated  instances 
of  affection,  and  labours  of  love,  than  I am  to  dear  Mr.  Fletcher ; and, 
therefore,  notwithstanding  all  differences  of  judgment  between  us,  I 
trust  he  will  always  give  me  leave  to  subscribe  myself  his  most  affec- 
tionate friend  and  brother,  in  the  bonds  of  the  Gospel  of  peace. 

The  Author  of  Pietas  OxoniensisP 

This  was  worthy  of  Mr.  Hill,  who,  eleven  years  afterwards, 
succeeded  to  the  title  and  estates  of  his  father,  and  became 
Sir  Richard  Hill,  Bart. 

Though  Mr.  Hill's  first  letter  to  Fletcher  was  dated  as 
recently  as  December  2,  I77i,the  whole  five  were  published, 
and  Fletcher's  answer  to  them  committed  to  the  press  as 
early  as  the  month  of  March,^  i/72.  Fletcher  begins  his 
“ Third  Check  to  Antinomianism"  as  follows  : — 

Honoured  and  Dear  Sir, — Accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 
Christian  courtesy  with  which  you  treat  me  in  your  five  letters. 

Some  of  our  friends  will  undoubtedly  blame  us  for  not  yet  dropping 
the  contest ; but  others  will  candidly  consider  that  controversy,  though 


^ The  reference  here  is  to  Father  Walsh,  the  Benedictine  monk  at 
Paris  ; and,  it  maybe  added,  that,  in  a foot-note,  Mr.  Hill  acknowledges 
himself  to  have  been  the  author  of  the  ^‘Conversation”  with  that  gentle- 
man, recently  published. 

^ The  date,  at  the  end  of  the  Third  Check,  is  “ Madeley,  February  3, 
1772." 


Age  42.]  The  Grace  of  God  given  to  all  Men, 


227 


not  desirable  in  itself,  yet  properly  managed,  has,  a hundred  times, 
rescued  truth,  groaning  under  the  lash  of  triumphant  error.  We  are 
indebted  to  our  Lord’s  controversies  with  the  Pharisees  and  Scribes  for 
a considerable  part  of  the  four  Gospels  ; and,  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
the  Church  will  bless  God  for  the  spirited  manner  in  wLich  St.  Paul,  in 
his  Epistles  to  the  Romans  and  Galatians,  defended  the  controverted 
point  of  a believer’s  present  justification  by  faith ; as  well  as  for  the  steadi- 
ness with  which  St.  James,  St.  John,  St.  Peter,  and  St.  Jude  carried  on 
their  important  controversy  with  the  Nicolaitans,  who  abased  St.  Paul’s 
doctrine  to  Antinomian  purposes. 

Had  it  not  been  for  controversy,  Romish  priests  would,  to  this  day, 
feed  us  with  Latin  masses  and  a wafer-god.  Some  bold  propositions, 
advanced  by  Luther  against  the  doctrine  of  indulgences,  unexpectedly 
brought  on  the  Reformation.  They  were  so  irrationally  attacked  by  the 
infatuated  papists,  and  so  scripturally  defended  by  the  resolute  Protes- 
tants, that  these  kingdoms  opened  their  eyes,  and  saw  thousands  of 
images  and  errors  fall  before  the  ark  of  evangelical  truth. 

^‘From  what  I have  advanced  in  my  Second  Cheeky  it  appears,  if  I 
am  not  mistaken,  that  we  stand  now  as  much  in  need  of  a reformation 
from  Antinomianism,  as  our  ancestors  did  of  a reformation  from  Popery; 
and  I am  not  without  hope  that  the  extraordinary  attack  which  has 
been  made  upon  Mr.  Wesley’s  anti-Crispian  propositions,  and  the 
manner  in  which  they  are  defended,  will  open  the  eyes  of  many,  and 
check  the  rapid  progress  of  so  enchanting  and  pernicious  an  evil.  This 
hope  inspires  me  with  fresh  courage  ; and,  turning  from  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Shirley,  I presume  to  face  (I  trust  in  the  spirit  of  love  and 
meekness)  my  new  respectable  opponent.” 

Fletcher’s  first  purpose,  in  this  important  controversy, 
was  to  attack  Antinomianism;  now  he  was  obliged  to  attack 
Calvinism,  which,  though  the  parent  of  Antinomianism,  did 
not  in  the  present  instance  approve  of  it.  It  is  needless 
to  recapitulate  Fletcher’s  arguments  in  favour  of  the  two 
doctrines,  that  all  mankind  are  redeemed  by  the  infinite 
sacrifice  of  the  incarnate  Son  of  God,  and  that,  through  the 
same  sacrifice,  “ the  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to 
every  man  to  profit  withal”  (i  Cor.  xii.  7).  A few  brief 
extracts,  however,  will  help  to  illustrate  his  spirit,  and  his 
style  of  writing. 

The  grace  of  God  is  as  the  wind,  which  hloweth  where  it  listeth  ; 
and  it  listeth  to  blow,  with  more  or  less  force  successively,  all  over  the 
earth.  You  can  as  soon  meet  with  a man  that  never  felt  the  wind,  or 
heard  the  sound  thereof,  as  with  one  that  never  felt  the  Divine  breath- 
ings, or  heard  the  still  small  voice,  which  we  call  the  grace  of  God. 
To  suppose  the  Lord  gives  us  a thousand  tokens  of  His  eternal  y>ower 


228 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


a7td  Godhead,  without  giving  us  a capacity  to  consider,  and  grace  to 
improve  them,  is  not  less  absurd  than  to  imagine  that  when  He  bestowed 
upon  Adam  all  the  trees  of  paradise  for  food.  He  gave  him  no  eyes  to 
see,  no  hands  to  gather,  and  no  mouth  to  eat  their  delicious  fruits.’' 
Waiving  the  case  of  infants,  idiots,  and  those  who  have  sinned  the 
sin  tmto  death,  was  there  ever  a sinner  under  no  obligation  to  repent 
and  to  believe  in  a merciful  God  ? Oh,  ye  opposers  of  free  grace, 
search  the  universe  with  Calvin’s  candle,  and  among  your  reprobated 
millions,  find  out  the  person  who  never  had  a merciful  God ; and  show 
us  the  unfortunate  creature,  whom  a sovereign  God  bound  over  to 
absolute  despair  of  His  mercy  from  the  womb.  If  there  is  no  such 
person  in  the  world ; if  all  men  are  bound  to  repent  and  to  believe  in 
a merciful  God,  there  is  an  end  of  Calvinism.  An  unprejudiced  man 
can  require  no  stronger  proof  that  all  are  redeemed  from  the  curse  of 
the  Adamic  law,  which  admitted  of  no  repentance ; and  that  the 
covenant  of  grace,  which  admits  of,  and  makes  provision  for  it,  freely 
extends  to  all  mankind. 

‘‘  Out  of  Christ's  fulness  all  have  received  grace,  a little  leaven  oi 
saving  power,  an  inward  monitor,  a divine  reprover,  a ray  of  true 
heavenly  light,  which  manifests  first  moral,  and  then  spiritual  good 
and  evil.  St.  John  bears  witness  of  that  light,  and  declares  it  was 
the  spiritual  life  of  man,  the  true  light  which  enlighteneth  not  only 
evc7'‘y  ma7i  that  comes  into  the  Church,  but  every  man  that  comes  into 
the  world — ^without  excepting  those  who  are  yet  in  darkness.  For  the 
light  shineth  in  darkness,  even  when  the  darkness  com^prehends  it 
not.  The  Baptist  also  bore  witness  of  that  light, that  all  men  through 
it,  not  through  him,  might  believe ; <pcos,  light,  being  the  last  ante- 
cedent, and  agreeing  perfectly  with  dl  avrov." 

The  reader  has  already  seen  Mr.  Hilhs  strange  and  per- 
nicious doctrine  respecting  eternal  justification.  Fletcher 
treats  this  Calvinistic  dream  with  terrible  though  polite 
severity.  Without  attempting  to  condense  his  arguments, 
the  following  extract  will  serve  to  show  his  perfect  victory 
over  his  respected  opponent  : — 

^ Wou  go  on,  ‘ If  Christ  fulfilled  the  whole  law  and  bore  the  curse,  then 
all  debts  and  claims  against  His  people,  be  they  more  or  be  they  less,  be 
they  small  or  be  they  great,  be  they  before  or  be  they  after  conversion, 
are  for  ever  and  for  ever  cancelled.’ 

‘‘Your  doctrine  drags  after  it  all  the  absurdities  of  eternal,  absolute 
justification.  It  sets  aside  the  use  of  repentance  and  faith,  in  order  to 
pardon  and  acceptance.  It  represents  the  sins  of  the  elect  as  forgiven 
not  only  before  they  are  confessed,  but  even  before  they  are  committed. 
It  supposes  that  all  the  penitents  who  have  believed  that  they  were 
once  children  of  wrath,  and  that  God  was  displeased  at  them  when 
they  lived  in  sin,  have  believed  a lie.  It  makes  the  preaching  of  the 


Age  42.] 


Good  Hlen  doing  the  DeviPs  Work. 


229 


Gospel  one  of  the  most  absurd,  wicked,  and  barbarous  things  in  the 
world.  For  what  can  be  more  absurd  than  to  say,  ‘ Repent  ye,  and 
believe  the  Gospel ; ’ ' He  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned ; ’ if  a 
certain  number  can  never  re^pent  or  believe,  and  a certain  number  can 
never  be  damned  ? ’ ’ 

In  concluding  his  Treatise,  Fletcher  remarks  : — 

If  I have  addressed  my  Three  Checks  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shirley  and 
yourself”  (Mr.  Richard  Hill),  God  is  my  witness  it  was  not  to  reflect 
upon  two  of  the  most  eminent  characters  in  the  circle  of  my  religious 
acquaintance.  Forcible  circumstances  have  over-ruled  my  inclinations. 
Decipimur  specie  recti.  Thinking  to  attack  error,  you  have  attacked 
the  very  truth  which  Providence  calls  me  to  defend : and  the  attack 
appears  to  me  so  much  the  more  dangerous  as  your  laborious  zeal  and 
eminent  piety  are  more  worthy  of  public  regard,  than  the  boisterous 
rant  and  loose  insinuations  of  twenty  practical  Antinomians.  The 
tempter  is  not  so  great  a novice  in  anti-Christian  politics  as  to  engage 
only  such  to  plead  for  doctrinal  Antinomianism.  This  would  soon 
spoil  the  trade.  It  is  his  masterpiece  of  wisdom  to  get  good  men 
to  do  him  that  eminent  service.  He  knows  that  their  good  lives  will 
make  way  for  their  bad  principles.  Nor  does  he  ever  deceive  with 
more  decency  and  success  than  under  the  respectable  cloak  of  their 
genuine  piety. 

If  a wicked  man  pleads  for  sm,foenun  habet  in  cornu,  he  carries 
the  mark  on  his  forehead ; we  stand  upon  our  guard.  But  when  a 
good  man  gives  us  to  understand  that  there  are  no  lengths  God^s 
people  may  not  run,  7tor  a?zy  depths  they  may  not  fall  into,  without 
losing  the  character  of  men  after  God^s  owzz  heart,  that  many  will 
praise  God  for  our  deziial  of  Christ,  that  sizi  and  corruption  work 
for  good,  that  a fall  into  adultery  will  drive  us  nearer  to  Christ, 
and  make  us  sing  louder  to  the  praise  of  free  grace  ; when  he  quotes 
Scripture  too,  in  order  to  support  these  assertions,  calling  them  the 
pure  Gospel,  and  representing  the  opposite  doctrine  as  the  Pelagian 
heresy,  worse  than  popery  itself, — he  casts  the  Antinomian  net  on  the 
right  side  of  the  ship,  and  is  likely  to  enclose  a great  multitude  of 
unwary  men ; especially  if  some  of  the  best  hands  in  the  kingdom  drive 
the  frighted  shoal  into  the  net,  and  help  to  drag  it  to  shore. 

‘^This  is,  honoured  Sir,  what  you  have  done,  not  designedly,  but 
thinking  to  do  God  service.  Hence  the  steadiness  wdth  which  I have 
looked  in  the  face  a man  of  God,  whose  feet  I should  be  glad  to  wash 
at  any  time,  under  a lively  sense  of  my  great  inferiority.  I beg  you 
not  to  consider  the  unceremonious  plainness  of  a Swiss  mountaineer  as 
the  sarcastic  insolence  of  an  incorrigible  Arminian. 

By  a mistake,  fashionable  among  religious  people,  you  have 
unhappily  paid  more  regard  to  Dr.  Crisp  than  to  St.  James.  And, 
as  you  have  pleaded  the  dangerous  cause  of  the  impenitent  monarch, 
I have  addressed  you  with  the  honest  boldness  of  the  expostulating 
prophet.  I have  said  to  my  honoured  opponent,  * Thou  art  the  man  ! * 


230 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


I owe  much  respect  to  you,  but  more  to  truth,  to  conscience,  and  to 
God.  If,  in  trying  to  discharge  my  duty  towards  them,  I have  in- 
advertently betrayed  any  want  of  respect  to  you,  I humbly  ask  your 
pardon ; and  I can  assure  you,  in  the  face  of  the  whole  world,  that 
notwithstanding  your  strong  attachment  to  the  peculiarities  of  Dr. 
Crisp,  as  there  is  no  family  in  the  world  to  which  I am  under  greater 
obligations  than  yours,  so  there  are  few  gentlemen  for  whom  I have  so 
peculiar  an  esteem,  as  for  the  respectable  author  of  Pietas  Oxoniensis,^^ 
Before  I lay  down  my  pen,'^  says  Fletcher,  in  a Postscript,^’  ‘‘I 
beg  leave  to  address,  a moment,  the  true  believers  who  espouse 
Calvin’s  sentiments.  Think  not,  honoured  brethren,  that  I have  no 
eyes  to  see  the  eminent  services  which  many  of  you  render  to  the 
Church  of  Christ ; no  heart  to  bless  God  for  the  Christian  graces  which 
shine  in  your  exemplary  conduct ; no  pen  to  testify,  that,  by  letting 
your  light  shine  before  men,  you  adorn  the  Gospel  of  God  our  Saviour, 
as  many  of  your  predecessors  have  done  before  you.  I am  not  only 
persuaded  that  your  opinions  are  consistent  with  a genuine  conversion 
but  I take  heaven  to  witness  how  much  I prefer  a Calvinist  who  loves 
God  to  a Remonstrant  who  does  not.  If  I have,  therefore,  taken  the 
liberty  of  exposing  your  favourite  mistakes,  do  me  the  justice  to  believe 
that  it  was  not  to  pour  conteinpt  upon  your  respectable  persons ; but  to 
set  your  peculiarities  in  such  a light  as  might  either  engage  you  to 
renounce  them,  or  check  the  forwardness  with  which  some  have  lately 
recommended  them  as  the  only  doctrines  of  grace,  and  the  ^ure  Gosj^el 
of  Jesus  Christ ; unkindly  representing  their  remonstrant  brethren  as 
enemies  to  free  grace,  and  abettors  of  a dreadful  heresy. 

*‘And  you,  my  remonstrant  brethren,  permit  me  to  offer  you  some 
seasonable  advices,  i . More  than  ever,  let  us  confirm  our  love  to  our 
Calvinist  brethren.  If  our  arguments  gall  them,  let  us  not  envenom 
the  sore  by  maliciously  triumphing  over  them.  Nothing  is  more  likely 
to  provoke  their  displeasure,  and  drive  them  from  what  we  believe  to 
be  the  truth.  2.  Do  not  rejoice  in  the  mistakes  of  our  opponents,  but 
in  the  detection  of  error.  Desire  not  that  we,  but  that  truth  may 
prevail.  Let  us  not  only  be  willing  that  our  brethren  should  win  the 
day  if  they  have  truth  on  their  side  ; but  let  us  make  it  matter  of 
solemn,  earnest,  and  constant  prayer.  3.  Let  us  strictly  observe  the 
rules  of  decency  and  kindness,  taking  care  not  to  treat  any  of  our 
opponents  in  the  same  manner  that  they  have  treated  Mr.  Wesley. 
The  men  of  the  world  sometimes  hint  that  he  is  a papist,  and  a Jesuit ; 
but  good,  mistaken  men  have  gone  much  farther  in  the  present  con- 
troversy. They  have  published  to  the  world,  that  they  verily  believe  his 
'principles  are  too  rotten  for  even  a papist  to  rest  upon ; that  he 
wades  through  the  quagmires  of  Pelagianism,  deals  in  inconsistencies, 
manifest  contradictions,  and  strange  prevarications ; that  if  ^ con- 
trast were  drawn  from  his  various  assertions  upon  the  doctrine  of 
sinless  perfection,  a tittle  piece  might  extend  into  a folio  volume  ; 
and  that  they  are  more  than  ever  convinced  of  his  prevaricating  dis- 
position, Not  satisfied  with  going  to  a Benedictine  monk,  in  Paris, 


Age  42.] 


Advices  to  Arminians. 


231 


for  help  against  his  dreadful  heresy,  they  have  wittily  extracted  an 
argument,  ad  hominem,  from  the  comfortable  dish  of  tea  he  drinks 
with  Mrs.  Wesley;  and,  to  complete  the  demonstration  of  their 
respect  for  that  grey-headed,  laborious  minister  of  Christ,  they  have 
brought  him  upon  the  stage  of  controversy  in  a dress  of  their  own  con- 
triving, and  made  him  declare  to  the  world,  that,  whenever  he  and  fifty- 
three  of  his  fellow- labourers  say  one  thing,  they  mean  quite  another. 
And  what  has  he  done  to  deserve  this  usage  at  their  hands  ? Which 
of  them  has  he  treated  unjustly  or  unkindly  ? Even  in  the  course  of 
this  controversy,  has  he  injured  any  man  ? May  he  not  say  to  this 
hour,  Tu  pugnas ; ego  vapulo  tantum  ? Let  us  avoid  this  warmth, 
my  brethren  ; remembering  that  personal  reflections  will  never  pass  for 
convincing  arguments  with  the  judicious  and  humane. 

I have  endeavoured  to  follow  this  advice  with  regard  to  Dr.  Crisp  ; 
nevertheless,  lest  you  should  rank  him  with  ^practical  Antinomians,  I 
once  more  gladly  protest  my  belief  that  he  was  a good  man ; and 
desire  that  none  of  you  would  condemn  all  his  sermons,  much  less  his 
character,  on  account  of  his  unguarded  antinomian  propositions. 

^'4.  If  you  would  help  us  to  remove  the  prejudices  of  our  brethren, 
not  only  grant  with  a good  grace,  but  strongly  insist  upon  the  great  truths 
for  which  they  make  so  noble  a stand.  Steadily  assert,  with  them,  that 
the  scraps  of  morality  and  formality,  by  which  Pharisees  and  deists 
pretend  to  merit  the  Divine  favour,  are  only  filthy  rags  in  the  sight  of 
a holy  God ; and  that  no  righteousness  is  current  in  heaven  but  the 
righteousness  which  is  of  God  by  faith.  If  they  have  set  their  hearts 
upon  calling  it  the  imputed  righteousness  of  Christ,  though  the  expres- 
sion is  not  strictly  scriptural,  let  it  pass  ; but  give  them  to  understand, 
that  as  Divine  imputation  of  righteousness  is  a most  glorious  reality, 
so  human  imputation  is  a most  delusive  dream  ; and  that  of  this  sort 
is  undoubtedly  the  Calvinian  imputation  of  righteousness  to  a man, 
who  actually  defiles  his  neighbour’s  bed,  and  betrays  innocent  blood. 
A dangerous  contrivance  this  ! not  less  subversive  of  common  heathenish 
morality,  than  of  St.  James’s  and  undefiled  religion. 

“ Again,  our  Calvinist  brethren  excel  in  setting  forth  depart  of  Christ’s 
priestly  office  ; I mean  the  immaculate  purity  of  His  most  holy  life,  and 
the  all-atoning,  all-meritorious  sacrifice  of  His  bloody  death.  Here 
imitate,  and,  if  possible,  surpass  them.  Shout  a finished  atonement 
louder  than  they.  If  they  call  this  complete  atonement  finished  salva- 
tion, or  the  finished  work  of  Christ,  indulge  them  still:  for  peace’s 
sake,  let  those  expressions  pass ; nevertheless,  at  proper  times,  give 
them  to  understand  that  it  is  absolutely  contrary  to  reason.  Scripture, 
and  Christian  experience  to  think  that  all  Christ’s  mediatorial  work  is 
finished.  Insinuate  you  should  be  very  miserable  if  He  had  nothing 
more  to  do  for  you  and  in  you.  Tell  them,  as  they  can  bear  it,  that 
He  works  daily  as  a Prophet  to  enlighten  you ; as  a Priest  to  make 
intercession  for  you  ; as  a JCing  to  subdue  your  enemies ; as  a Redeemer 
to  deliver  you  out  of  all  your  troubles ; and  as  a Saviour  to  help  you 
to  work  out  your  own  salvation ; and  hint  that,  in  all  these  respects, 


232 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


Christ’s  work  is  no  more  finished  than  the  working  of  our  own  salvation 
is  completed. 

'^The  judicious  will  understand  you;  as  for  bigots,  they  are  proof 
against  Scripture  and  good  sense.  Nevertheless,  mild  irony,  sharply 
pointing  a scriptural  argument,  may  yet  pass  between  the  joints  of  their 
impenetrable  armour,  and  make  them  feel  either  some  shame,  or  some 
weariness  of  contention.  But  this  is  a dangerous  method,  which  I would 
recommend  to  very  few.  None  should  dip  his  pen  in  the  wine  of  irony, 
till  he  has  dipped  it  in  the  oil  of  love ; and  even  then,  he  should  not  use 
it  without  constant  prayer,  and  as  much  caution  as  a surgeon  lances  an 
impostume.  If  he  goes  too  deep,  he  does  mischief;  if  not  deep  enough, 
he  loses  his  time  ; the  virulent  humour  is  not  discharged,  but  irritated 
by  the  skin-deep  operation.  And  ‘who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?’ 
Gracious  God  of  wisdom  and  love  ! if  Thou  callest  us  to  this  difficult 
and  thankless  office,  let  all  our  sufficiency  be  of  Thee  ! and  should  the 
operation  succeed,  Thine  and  Thine  alone  shall  be  all  the  glory.” 

Such  advices  were  Christian  and  opportune.  No  doubt, 
they  were  meant  for  men  like  Thomas  Olivers  and  Walter 
Sellon.  Wesley,  in  a tract  of  twelve  pages,  had,  in  1770, 
attacked  Toplady’s  ‘‘Abridgement  of  Zanchius  on  Predesti- 
nation.” Toplady,  in  the  same  year,  had  replied  to  this,  in 
a most  bitter  and  scurrilous  “ Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Wesley.”  Not  having  leisure  for  this  kind  of  work,  Wesley 
had  requested  Olivers  to  answer  Toplady.  Olivers,  in  1771, 
had  published  his  “ Letter  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Toplady” 
(i2mo,  60  pp.),  and  had  treated  Toplady  with  an  amount 
of  well-deserved  tartness,  which  quite  justified  Fletcher  in 
giving  the  above  advice. 

Then,  again,  Walter  Sellon,  in  the  same  year,  1771,  had 
published  his  “ Church  of  England  Vindicated  from  the 
Charge  of  Absolute  Predestination,  as  is  stated  and  asserted 
by  the  Translator  of  Jerome  Zanchius,  in  his  Letter  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Nowell.  Together  with  Some  Animadversions  on 
his  Translation  of  Zanchius,  his  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Wesley,  and  his  Sermon  on  i Tim.  i.  10.”  i2mo,  129  pp. 
In  his  small  country  parish,  Ledsham,  in  Yorkshire,  Sellon 
had  dealt  Toplady’s  predestination  theory  heavy  blows;  and, 
it  must  be  added,  he  had  not  been  sparing  in  virulence.  He 
began  with  telling  the  abusive  vicar  of  Broad  Hembury,  “ I 
shall  deal  plainly  with  you  ; more  plainly,  perhaps,  than  you 
might  desire ; yet  not  so  plainly  as  you  might  jiLstly  expect. 
I would  not  say  a word  barely  to  enrage  you  ; and  yet,  I 


Age  42.] 


Fletcher's  Cautions  Needed. 


233 


doubt  not,  but  I shall  ejirage  you,  because  there  is  no  coping 
with  such  writers  as  you,  without  speaking  a little  in  your 
own  manner  ; and  I have  always  observed,  those  that  are 
most  prone  to  give  offence  are  also  most  prone  to  take  itd 
Sellon  fulfilled  his  threatening  promise,  and  concluded  : 
“Excuse  my  plainness.  Sir,  if  I tell  you  farther,  you  seem 
much  to  stand  in  need  of  learning  the  lesson  dictated  by 
Solon  of  Athens, ' Know  thyseif  d and  of  praying  heartily  that 
prayer  prescribed  by  our  Church,  From  atl  btindness  of  heart ; 
fro7n  pride ^ vaingtory^  afid  hypocrisy  ; from  envy^  hatred^  a7id 
malice^  and  ait  uncharitabieness ^ — Good  Lord^  deiiver  us 

Fletcher,  in  this  irritating  controversy,  never  lost  his  temper. 
Some  of  his  coadjutors  and  opponents  did  ; and  hence  the 
Christian  and  needed  cautions  and  advices  at  the  end  of  his 
“Third  Check  to  Antinomianism.” 


I 


234 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


CHAPTER  XL 

FOURTH  CHECK  TO  ANTINOMIANISMT 
1772. 

The  issue  of  Fletcher's  ‘‘Third  Check’'  was  immediately- 
followed  by  “A  Review  of  all  the  Doctrines  taught  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley;  containing  a full  and  particular 
Answer  to  a Book  entitled,  ‘ A Second  Check  to  Antino- 
mianism.  In  Six  Letters,  to  the  Author  of  that  Book. 
Wherein  the  Doctrines  of  a Twofold  Justification,  Free-Will, 
Man’s  Merit,  Sinless  Perfection,  Finished  Salvation,  and  Real 
Antinomianism  are  particularly  discussed  ; and  the  Puritan 
Divines  vindicated  from  the  Charges  brought  against  them 
of  holding  Mr.  Wesley’s  Doctrines.’  To  which  is  added  ‘ A 
Farrago.’  London,  1772.”  8vo,  15  i pp.  The  letters  are 
all  signed  “The  Author  of  P.O.,”  meaning,  of  course,  Richard 
Hill. 

Almost  at  the  same  time  that  the  book,  with  this  ponderous 
title,  was  published,  Mr.  Richard  Hill  committed  to  the  press 
an  8vo  tract  of  sixteen  pages,  entitled,  “ Some  Remarks  on 
a Pamphlet,  entitled,  A Third  Check  to  Antinomianism.  By 
the  Author  of  ‘ Pietas  Oxoniensist  ” 

Of  the  second  of  these  publications  nothing  need  be  said. 
Considerable  bitterness  towards  Wesley  is  displayed,  and  a 
modicum  of  severity  towards  Fletcher ; but,  perhaps,  not 
more  than  might  be  naturally  expected  ; for  men  dislike 
to  be  vanquished. 

His  first  and  much  larger  pamphlet,  containing,  besides 
the  “ Farrago,”  “ Six  Letters”  addressed  to  Fletcher,  must 
have  more  attention.  The  “Letters”  relate,  not  to  the 
“ Thirdl'  but  the  “ Second  Check”  of  Pdetcher,  and  were 
published  only  a few  days  before  the  appearance  of  the 


Age  42.]  Mr.  Richard  HiWs  ‘‘  Six  Letters.^’^ 


235 


Remarks''  just  noticed.  Mr.  Hill  thus  commences  his  first 
letter  : — 

Reverend  Sir, — After  many  debates  with  myself,  and  much  soli- 
citation from  my  friends,  you  now  hear  from  me  again  on  your  Second 
Check  to  Antinomianism,  I make  no  other  apology  for  writing,  than 
that  I think  there  is  an  absolute  necessity  an  answer  should  be  given 
to  it.  But,  whilst  I make  my  animadversions  on  your  letters,  may  the 
Divine  Author  of  love  and  meekness  preserve  me  from  the  unhappy  spirit 
in  which  they  are  written  ! Oh,  my  dear  Sir,  I never  could  have  supposed 
that  sneer,  banter,  and  sarcasm,  yea  notorious  falsehood,  calumny,  and 
gross  perversions,  would  have  appeared  before  the  world  under  the 
sanction  of  your  venerable  name.’’ 

In  making  such  accusations,  Mr.  Hill  ought  to  have  known 
he  was  himself  guilty  of  “notorious  falsehood  and  calumny;" 
but  he  was  angry,  and  anger  is  always  blindfolding. 

Mr.  Hill  next  proceeds  to  denounce  Wesley's  “ doctrine 
of  a second  justification  by  works  ; " and  asserts  that  “ it  has 
no  existence  in  the  Word  of  God,  nor  in  any  Protestant 
Church  under  heaven  but  that,  in  this  matter,  “Mr.  Wesley 
and  Mr.  Fletcher  have  the  whole  Council  of  Trent  on  their 
side." 

With  considerable  ability,  but  with  great  bitterness  and 
even  reviling,  especially  so  far  as  Wesley  is  concerned,  Mr. 
Hill  endeavours  to  refute  Fletcher's  arguments  in  support  of 
the  doctrine  just  named,  and  then  remarks  : — 

‘‘  I intended  to  have  made  several  other  extracts  from  your  first  letter ; 
but  as  I really  cannot  find  many  lines  together  free  from  gross  misrepre- 
sentations and  perversions,  and  hardly  one  single  paragraph  exempt 
from  cutting  sneers  and  low  sarcasms,  I confess  I have  not  patience  to 
transcribe  them ; especially  when  I consider  that  they  are  addressed 
to  one”  (Walter  Shirley)  '‘who,  notwithstanding  your  former  unkind 
behaviour,  hath  treated  you  with  all  the  politeness  of  a gentleman,  and 
the  humility  of  a Christian.” 

This  was  an  ebullition  of  bad  temper.  The  charges  are 
untrue,  and  the  spirit  is  unchristian.  Fletcher  employed 
irony,  but,  as  all  candid  readers  of  his  Checks  must  acknow- 
ledge, it  was  always  polite  and  decorous.  None  but  irritated 
men,  like  Mr.  Hill,  can  find  “ low  sarcasms  ; " and  as  for  “gross 
misrepresentations  and  perversions,"  they  have  no  existence. 

In  his  Second  Letter,  Mr.  Hill  takes  up  the  doctrine  of 


236 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


free-will,  and  pronounces  Fletcher’s  statements,  in  support 
of  the  free  agency  of  man,  to  be  ‘‘  as  totally  void  of  solid 
scriptural  argument,  as  they  are  replete  with  calumny,  gross 
perversions,  and  equivocations.” 

In  his  Third  Letter,  Mr.  Hill  discusses  what  he  is  pleased 
to  call  Sinless  Perfection, — a doctrine  which  neither  Wesley 
nor  Fletcher  ever  taught.  Christian  Perfection^  they  enforced 
and  defended  ; but  Sinless  Perfection,  using  the  word  in  its 
strict  and  literal  sense,  was  not  a dogma  of  theirs,  but  a 
verbal  invention,  adopted  from  Whitefield  and  others,  by 
Mr.  Hill  and  his  angry  friends,  who  desired  to  make  their 
opponents  the  target  of  ridicule  and  scorn. 

Mr.  Hill  begins  with  several  revolting  anecdotes  respecting 
people  who  professed  themselves  to  be  perfect  Christians, — 
stories  which  probably  were  true ; but  stories  concerning 
perfect  fanatics  whom  Wesley  and  Fletcher  would  have  con- 
demned as  strongly  as  Mr.  Hill.  His  Letter  terminates  with 
a series  of  the  same  sort  of  nauseous  anecdotes.  In  a certain 
sense,  it  is  smart,  and  Mr.  Hill  thought  it  so  ; for,  in  con- 
cluding it,  he  remarks  : — 

Now,  my  dear  Sir,  I have  given  you  a little  in  your  own  way ; but, 
notwithstanding  you  have  set  me  the  example  in  this  manner  of  writing, 

I shall  be  glad  to  set  you  the  example  of  mutual  forgiveness.  By  cutting 
and  slashing,  we  shall  never  convince  each  other  of  our  errors  ; and  the 
end  of  our  controversy  will  be,  that  the  world  will  laugh  at  you  for 
taking  the  sword  of  banter,  the  shield  of  perversion,  the  helmet  of 
prejudice,  and  the  breastplate  of  acrimony,  in  order  to  fight  for  the 
-doctrine  of  sinless  perfection  ; and  I myself  shall  be  laughed  at,  in  my 
turn,  for  losing  so  much  precious  time  in  answering  you.” 

Mr.  Hill’s  fourth  letter  is  a brief  one,  and  is  devoted  to 
what  he  calls  Fletcher’s  “ heavy  bombs  of  bitter  sneer  and 
cutting  sarcasm,”  hurled  at  the  doctrine  of  the  finished ^ 
salvation  of  Christ!^ 

The  fifth  and  sixth  letters,  and  also  the  postscript,  are 
not  theological,  but  simply  abusive.  Fletcher  is  said  to 


* The  reader  who  wishes  to  know  what  is  meant  by  this  is  strongly 
recommended  to  read  Wesley’s  invaluable  treatise,  entitled,  Plain 
Account  of  Christian  Perfection  ; ” his  equally  important  and  scriptural 
sermon  on  Christian  Perfection,”  and  his  other  irrefutable  sermons  on 
the  same  subject. 


Age  42.  ] 


Mr.  Rowland  Hill. 


^37 


have  traduced  all  the  most  celebrated  ministers  of  the 
Gospel ''  of  that  day  ; and  to  have  ‘‘  thrown  stumbling-blocks 
into  the  way  of  thousands.”  A “ wretched  spirit  of  low 
sarcasm  and  slanderous  banter  runs  throughout  ” his  whole 
writings.  Wesley  and  Fletcher  had  “ adopted  a scheme  of 
religion  gathered  out  of  Pelagianism,  Semi-Pelagianism,  Ar- 
minianism,  Popery,  Mysticism,  and  Quakerism.” 

The  “ Farrago  of  Hot  and  Cold  Medicines,  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  John  Wesley,  extracted  from  his  own  Publications,”  is, 
of  course,  principally  levelled  against  Wesley.  The  spirit  of 
it  may  be  gathered  from  an  extract  from  Bishop  Hall,  on 
the  title-page  of  Mr.  Hill’s  ill-natured  pamphlet : — 

I would  I knew  where  to  find  you ; then  I could  take  a direct  aim. 
Whereas  now  I must  rove  and  conjecture.  To-day  you  are  in  the  tents 
of  the  Romanists  ; to-morrow,  in  ours  ; next  day,  between  both,  against 
both.  Our  adversaries  think  you  ours,  we  theirs  ; your  conscience  finds, 
you  with  both  and  neither.  I fiatter  you  not ; this  of  yours  is  the  worst 
of  all  tempers.  Will  you  be  a church  alone  ? Alas  ! how  full  are  you 
of  contradictions  to  yourself ! How  full  of  contrary  purposes  ! How 
oft  do  you  chide  with  yourself  ? How  oft  do  you  fight  with  yourself  ? ’ ’ 

Of  course,  all  this  was  provoking.  Had  Fletcher  been  of 
a much  less  combative  disposition  than  he  really  was,  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  him,  as  a man  of  honesty 
and  honour,  to  lay  aside  his  pen.  Mr.  Hill’s  accusations 
were  serious  ones,  involving  Fletcher’s  moral  character  ; and 
a reply  to  them  was  imperative.  But,  before  Fletcher’s 
‘‘Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism”  is  introduced  to  the  reader’s 
notice,  another  publication,  which  preceded  it,  must  be  men- 
tioned. This  was  entitled  “ Friendly  Remarks  occasioned  by 
the  Spirit  and  Doctrines  contained  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
Vindication,  and  more  particularly  in  his  Second  Check  to 
Antinomianism,  to  which  is  added  a postscript,  occasioned  by 
his  Third  Check.  In  a letter  to  the  Author, 

# # # # A.M.  London  : 1772.”  8vo.  71  pp.  The  letter 
is  dated,  “London,  July  4,  1772,”  and  the  asterisks  stand 
for  the  name  of  Rowland  Hill,  Mr.  Richard  Hill’s  impulsive 
and  eccentric  brother,  who  had  taken  his  degree  at  Cam- 
bridge, had  been  refused  orders  by  half-a-dozen  bishops,  and 
was  now  nearly  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  Berridge  and 
Whitefield  had  been  his  friends,  and  even  Wesley  had  ap- 


238 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


proved  of  his  preaching  among  his  Societies/  At  present, 
he  was  in  London,  discoursing  to  immense  congregations  in 
Whitefield’s  two  Metropolitan  Chapels,  and  was  resident  in 
the  Tabernacle  House,  in  Moorfields/  There,  no  doubt, 
the  pamphlet  was  written,  which  must  now  be  noticed. 

He  begins  with  a reference  to  his  extensive  preaching 
tours  ; and  states  that  he  was  frequently  invited  to  preach 
in  the  meeting-houses  of  Wesley’s  Societies,  and  that  this 
occasioned  him  considerable  perplexity,  for  to  preach  against 
Wesley’s  “ sentiments  in  his  own  congregations  would  be 
unfair.”  He  continues  : — 

''And  yet,  when  I consider  how  many  excellent  Christians  are  con- 
tained in  Mr.  Wesley’s  Societies,  whom  I love  as  my  own  soul,  and  to 
whom  I have  frequently  given  promises  of  my  assistance  and  labours, 
how  will  it  grieve  me  to  be  constrained  to  withdraw  from  them,  whom 
I so  much  honour  and  respect.” 

Rowland  Hill  proceeds  to  say,  that  hitherto  he  had  de- 
clined having  the  least  share  in  the  late  contentions.”  He 
was  at  Bristol  in  1771,  when  Mr.  Shirley  and  his  friends 
invaded  Wesley’s  Conference,  but  he  refused  to  join  them, 
and  left  the  city,  for,  he  remarks,  “ Peace  I love,  but  con- 
troversy I hate.”  He  continues  : — 

"Upon  my  return  to  Bristol,  I saw  your  first  publication.®  As  I 
dearly  loved  your  character,  I read  it  with  great  prejudice  in  your 
favour ; but  still,  the  tartness  of  the  style,  as  well  as  the  bad  doctrine 
it  contained,  concerned  me ; but,  as  I plainly  perceived  your  intention 
was  to  make  the  ' Minutes  ’ speak  as  much  Gospel  as  possible,  though 
I was  sorry  for  the  performance,  I felt  a loving  pity  for  the  author. 
About  the  same  time,  I called  upon  Mr.  Wesley,  then  in  Bristol,  and, 
in  strong  terms,  expressed  to  him  my  concern  about  his  ^ Minutest 
He  told  me  that  he  looked  upon  the  whole  of  them  as  truth,  and  that  he 
should  vindicate  them  as  such. 

"Still  my  determination  was  to  appear  in  no  open  separation  from 
Mr.  Wesley ; hoping  that  time  would  soften  the  edge  of  the  dispute, 
and  restore  calmness  and  composure  among  contending  parties ; but 
yom  second  publication  compels  me  to  believe  that  to  be  neutral  any 


* Sidney’s  "Life  of  Rowland  Hill,”  p.  56. 

2 Ihid,  p.  70. 

® The  "Vindication”  of  Wesley’s  Minutes. 

^ "Second  Check  to  Antinomianism,  in  Three  Letters,”  to  Mr. 
Shirley. 


Age  42.] 


Mr.  Rowland  Hill. 


239 


longer  will  be  criminal.  You  have  now  done  sufficient  to  darken  every 
gleam  of  hope  of  future  tranquillity,  by  publishing  such  doctrine,  and  in 
such  a spirit,  as  has  kindled  no  small  flame  in  the  religious  world.’' 

No  doubt  Rowland  Hill  was  perfectly  sincere  when  he 
said  he  hated  controversy,  and  loved  peace  ; and  yet,  such 
is  the  tendency  of  polemical  writing,  Rowland  Hill  and  his 
brother  Richard  became  the  principal  fomentors  of  this 
controversial  warfare. 

Having  given  what  he  calls  ‘‘  a simple  narration  of  facts,” 
Mr,  Rowland  Hill  proceeds  to  say : — 

I will  now  make  some  strictures  principally  upon  your  last  perform- 
ance. This  I pray  God  I may  be  enabled  to  do  with  meekness  and 
judgment.  I know  there  is  no  argument  in  banter,  nor  conclusion  in 
sarcasm,  nor  divinity  in  a sneer : such  weapons  I wish  totally  to 
discard ; they  are  pitiful  even  for  the  world,  but  they  are  scandalous 
when  used  by  a Christian.  I hate  such  feeble  aids,  and  will  scorn  to 
use  them  ; they  would  defile  my  soul,  and  stab  the  cause  I mean  to 
maintain.  The  meek  and  dove-like  disposition  of  Christ,  I humbly  hope 
will  teach  me,  while  I write,  to  ;pity,  not  to  abuse,  the  mistaken ; and 
meekly  to  deliver  my  sentiments,  without  having  recourse  to  the  low 
arts  of  slander  and  reflection, 

Rowland  Hill  had  good  intentions  ; but  whether  he  ful- 
filled them  will  be  seen  in  the  succeeding  extracts. 

After  having  first  dressed  up  Mr.  Shirley  according  to  your  own 
fancy,  and  branded  him  with  the  opprobrious  name  of  Antinomian,  you 
place  him  at  the  head  of  a set  of  monsters  invented  by  yourself ; and, 
after  having  thus  raised  a hideous  and  unthought-of  ghost,  you  remand 
it  to  the  shades  by  your  own  spells  and  incantations  of  banter  and 
contempt,  ’ ’ 

After  having  said  so  much  as  to  place  us  in  a manner  even  amongst 
murderers,  on  account  of  our  principles  of  grace,  it  really  shocks  and 
almost  disheartens  me  from  following  you  any  further.  I will,  therefore, 
now  omit  reminding  you  of  the  numberless  sneers,  taunts,  and  sarcasms, 
which  so  dreadfully  decorate  the  whole  of  your  performance ; they  are 
nothing  better  than  the  infernal  terms  of  darkness ; it  is  hateful  to 
transcribe  them  ; let  darkness  be  their  doomi''^ 

Consider  in  what  detestable  colours  you  have  pictured  us  before  the 
world.  There  is  scarce  an  abomination  but  what  we  are  charged  with  ; 
and  our  enemies  triumph  at  the  supposed  discovery.  You  are  the  man, 
they  say,  that  has  been  among  the  Calvinists , has  found  out  their 
hypocrisy,  and  are  now  publishing  against  them.  Numbers  of  them, 
to  my  knowledge,  carry  about  your  book  in  ill-natured  triumph,  and 
cast  in  our  teeth,  as  certain  truth,  the  dreadful  slanders  you  have 


240 


TVesley^ s Desig7iated  Successor. 


[1772. 


invented.  In  short,  Sir,  you  have  brought  over  us  such  a day  of  blas- 
phemy and  rebuke  as  we  never  felt  before.’’ 

‘'Our  characters  now  lie  bleeding  before  you;  we  smart  severely 
under  the  cruelty  of  your  pen  ; and  complain  loudly  against  your  great 
injustice.  You  have  given  us  up  to  be  trampled  upon  by  the  world, 
who,  from  your  pretended  discoveries,  looks  upon  us  all  as  hypocrites 
detected  under  the  mask  of  religion.  If  you  think  us  in  error,  for 
Christ’s  sake,  sneer  at  us  no  more;  though  it  may  be  sport  to  you, 
it  is,  in  a manner,  death  to  us.  Learn  the  more  Christian  lesson  to 
pity  us,  and  pray  for  us,  and  try  to  set  us  right  in  love.” 

Rowland  Hill,  no  doubt,  intended  to  avoid  in  his  pam- 
phlet the  low  art  of  slander but  he  failed  in  carrying 
out  his  purpose.  Any  one  who  has  read,  with  candour, 
Fletchers  first  and  second  Checks  to  Antinomianism,  must 
admit  that  Mr.  Hill’s  accusations  are  unfounded.  Where 
had  Fletcher  slandered  Rowland  Hill,  or  any  of  his  Calvin- 
istic  friends  } It  is  true  that  he  had  treated  some  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Calvinists  with  banter'd  and  with  sarcas^n 
but  his  Calvinian  friends,  against  whose  tenets  he  had  written, 
had,  uniformly,  been  treated  with  respectful  affection.  Im- 
petuous Rowland  improperly  applied  Fletcher’s  bariter"  and 
sarcas7n'd  not  to  doctrmes,  as  Fletcher  had  intended,  but  to 
the  men  who  held  them,  himself  and  his  godly  friends  in- 
cluded ; a thing  from  which  Fletcher’s  loving  soul  revolted. 

The  remainder  of  Rowland  Hill’s  “ Friendly  Remarks  ” 
chiefly  consists  of  animadversions,  intended  to  show  the 
glaring  inconsistencies  and  palpable  mistakes  ” of  Fletcher, 
in  the  doctrines  he  had  defended  and  enforced.  It  would 
be  an  almost  endless  task  to  dwell  upon  the  theological 
criticisms  of  Fletcher  and  his  opponents.  As  might  be 
expected,  Rowland  Hill,  in  attacking  Fletcher’s  tenets,  is 
often  smart ; and,  it  must  be  added,  often  bitter. 

A reply  to  the  pamphlets  of  Richard  Hill  and  his  brother 
Rowland  became  a necessity.  Fletcher  could  not  remain 
silent  under  such  unfounded  and  undeserved  imputations. 
Hence,  though  weary  of  the  warfare,  he  at  once  resumed  his 
pen,  and  began  to  prepare  his  “ Fourth  Check  to  Antino- 
mianism.” The  postscript  of  Rowland  Hill’s  Friendly 
Remarks,”  dated  ‘‘July  4,  1772,”  states  that  the  ‘'Third 
Check”  had  just  “made  its  appearance.”  The  fourth  was 
published  before  the  year  was  ended,  and  bore  the  title  of 


Age  43.] 


Fou'l'th  Check  to  Aniinoniianism,''’' 


241 


“ Logica  Genevensis  ; or,  a Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism, 
in  which  St.  James’s  Pure  Religion  is  defended  against 
the  Charges,  and  established  upon  the  Concessions  of  Mr. 
Richard  and  Mr.  Rowland  Hill.  In  a Series  of  Letters  to 
those  Gentlemen,  by  the  Vindicator  of  the  Minutes.  Bristol  : 
Printed  by  William  Pine,  1772.”  i2mo.  245  pp.-  The 
letters  are  thirteen  in  number,  and  all  of  them  are  addressed 
to  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  except  the  ninth,  which  is  addressed 
‘Ho  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,”  and  the  tenth  and  eleventh  written 
to  the  two  brothers  conjointly.  The  thirteenth,  and  last,  is 
dated,  “ Madeley,  Nov.  15,  1772.”^ 

Meanwhile,  Wesley  published  “ Some « Remarks  on  Mr. 
Hill’s  Review  of  all  the  Doctrines  taught  by  Mr.  John 
Wesley.”  This  is  not  the  place  to  analyse  Wesley’s  i2mo. 
pamphlet  of  54  pages,  but  the  following  extract  from  it  may 
be  acceptable  : — 

‘‘With  regard  to  Mr.  Hill’s  objections  to  Mr.  Fletcher,  I refer  all 
candid  men  to  his  own  writings — his  letters,  entitled  a ‘ First,  Second, 
and  Third  Check  to  Antinomianism  ; ’ the  rather,  because  there  are 
very  few  of  his  arguments  which  Mr.  Hill  even  attempts  to  answer. 
’Tis  true  he  promises  ‘ a full  and  particular  answer  to  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
“ Second  Check  to  Antinomianism  ” ; ’ but  it  will  puzzle  any  one  to  find 
where  that  answer  is  except  in  the  title-page.  And  if  anything  more  is 
needful  to  be  done,  Mr.  Fletcher  is  still  able  to  answer  for  himself. 
But  if  he  does,  I would  recommend  to  his  consideration  the  advice 
formerly  given  by  a wise  man  to  his  friend,  ‘ See  that  you  humble  not 
yourself  to  that  man  ; it  would  hurt  both  him  and  the  cause  of  God.’ 
’Tis  pity  but  he  had  considered  it  sooner,  and  he  might  have  escaped 
some  keen  reflections.  But  he  did  not.  He  imagined  when  he  spoke 
or  wrote  in  the  simplicity  of  his  heart,  that  his  opponents  would  have 
received  his  words  in  the  same  spirit  wherein  they  were  spoken  ; but 
they  turn  them  all  into  poison.  He  not  only  loses  his  sweet  words,  but 
they  are  turned  into  bitterness — are  interpreted  as  mere  sneer  and 
sarcasm  / A good  lesson  for  me.  I had  designed  to  have  transcribed 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  character  of  Mr.  Hill,  and  to  have  added  a little  thereto, 


^ The  semi-infidel  Monthly  Review,  which  could  hardly  exist  without 
sneering  at  evangelical  religion,  remarked  concerning  this  Fourth  Check 
to  Antinomianism : — 

“Mr.  Fletcher  continues  to  push  the  Calvinists  with  unremitting 
vigour.  He  here  encounters  two  formidable  adversaries  at  once.  The 
veteran  Wesley,  who  now,  perhaps,  thinks  it  time  to  retire  from  the 
well-fought  field,  is  fortunate  in  having  so  zealous  an  auxiliary.” 
{Monthly  Review,  1773,  p.  240.) 

16 


242 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


in  hope  of  softening  his  spirit.  But  I see  it  is  in  vain  ; as  well  might 
one  hope  to  soften 

‘ Inexorable  Pluto,  king  of  shades.’ 

Since  he  is  capable  of  putting  such  a construction  even  upon  Mr. 
Fletcher’s  gentleness  and  mildness;  since  he  ascribes  even  to  him  ‘a 
pen  dipped  in  gall,’  what  will  he  not  ascribe  tome?  I have  done 
therefore  with  humbling  myself  to  these  men — to  Mr.  Hill  and  his 
associates.  I have  humbled  myself  to  them  for  these  thirty  years,  but 
will  do  it  no  more.  I have  done  with  attempting  to  soften  their  spirits  ; 
it  is  all  lost  labour  ” (pp.  3,  4). 

Having  come  to  such  a determination,  it  need  not  be 
added  that  Wesley’s  pamphlet  was  one  of  the  most  trenchant 
he  ever  published. 

Wesley  was  in  Shropshire  in  the  month  of  August,  and 
probably  had  an  interview  with  Fletcher.  It  is  not  unlikely 
that  Fletcher  accompanied  Wesley  in  his  journey  to  Bristol  ; 
but  if  this  were  not  the  case,  it  is  certain  that  he  soon  after 
followed  him.  Hence  the  following  hitherto  unpublished 
letter,  written  by  John  Pawson,  an  itinerant  preacher  of  ten 
years’  standing: — 

'^  Bristol,  Sejitember  2g, 

''My  Very  Dear  Friend, — Mr.  Wesley  came  here  on  Saturday, 
August  29,  and  has  been  with  us  ever  since,  but  intends  to  leave  Bristol 
next  Monday  ” [October  5].  " He  seems  to  be  as  zealous  and  active 

in  his  Master’s  service  as  ever,  and  quite  in  good  health.  We  have 
also  had  the  great  Mr.  Fletcher  here,  but  he  is  now  returned  to  Madeley. 
He  seems  to  be  an  eminent  saint  indeed.  I had  the  satisfaction  to 
hear  him  twice.  He  is  a lively,  zealous  preacher ; the  power  of  God 
seems  to  attend  his  word  ; yet  I admire  him  much  more  as  a writer 
than  as  a preacher.  Being  a foreigner,  there  is  a kind  of  roughness 
attends  his  language  that  is  not  grateful  to  an  English  hearer  ; and  the 
English  not  being  his  mother-tongue,  he  sometimes  seems  to  be  at  a 
loss  for  words.  Yet  he  certainly  is  a great  and  blessed  man. 

"We  have  had  very  large  congregations  to  hear  both  Mr.  Wesley 
and  Mr.  Fletcher,  especially  the  latter ; and  I hope  we  shall  see  the 
fruit  of  their  preaching  in  a little  time.  I trust  that  our  gracious  Lord 
will  be  with  us,  and  that  we  shall  have  a prosperous  year ; though  I 
apprehend  it  will  be  attended  with  greater  difficulties  than  ever  to  keep 
the  people  together  in  Bristol.  We  have  the  Tabernacle^  on  one  hand, 
and  Mr.  Janes,^  who  has  a meeting  in  Tucker  Street,  on  the  other. 


^ Whitefield  had  a Tabernacle  at  Kingswood  ; and  Lady  Huntingdon, 
in  1753,  built  one  in  Bristol,  wEich  Whitefield  opened. 

2 Thomas  Janes,  who  from  176710  1770  was  one  of  Wesley’s  itinerants. 
His  health  not  being  equal  to  the  rough  work  of  a Methodist  preacher 


Age  43.]  Original  Letter  by  yohn  Pawson. 


243 


Mr.  Roquet  ^ also  is  disaffected  towards  us.  He  has  been  in  London 
for  some  time  with  his  dear  friend  Mr.  Hill.  One  night  he  preached  in 
the  Foundery,  where  he  gave  universal  offence  by  using  many  Calvin - 
istical  phrases,  and  by  telling  the  whole  congregation  that  he  knew 
there  were  whores  and  bawds  even  in  the  Bands  2 in  Bristol.  He  said, 

‘ These  eyes  have  seen  it,  and  this  heart  has  groaned  on  account  of  it.’ 
How  he  will  be  when  he  returns  I know  not ; but  these  are  the  accounts 
we  hear  from  London.  Were  it  not  that  so  many  of  our  people  are  so 
exceedingly  unstable,  we  need  not  fear  any  of  these  things ; but  you 
well  know  that  many  of  them  have  got  itching  ears,  and  will  run  about, 
say  or  do  what  we  will. 

Mr.  Wesley  has  just  published  his  answer  to  Mr.  Hill.  I suppose 
it  will  make  the  Calvinists  exceeding  angry;  but  I think  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
‘ Fourth  Check,’  which  is  now  in  the  press,  will  make  them  much  more 
so,  as  he  does  not  spare  them  at  all,  but  endeavours  to  show,  in  the 
clearest  manner,  the  horrible  consequences  of  their  beloved  opinions. 
He  is  writing  something  upon  Perfection,  the  former  part  of  which  I 
have  seen  ; and  I think  he  will  set  that  doctrine  in  so  Scriptural  a light, 
as  to  stop  the  mouths  of  gainsayers.” 

Fletcher  dedicated  his  Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism 
to  all  candid  Calvinists  in  the  Church  of  England.”  An 
extract  from  this  dedication  may  be  useful,  as  giving,  in  a 
brief  form,  some  of  the  doctrines  which  Fletcher  had  defended 
and  enforced,  and  which  had  so  hugely  offended  his  Calvin- 
istic  friends. 

They  ” [his  opponents]  will  try  to  frighten  you  from  reading  this, 
book,  by  protesting  that  I throw  down  the  foundation  of  Christianity 
and  help  Mr.  Wesley  to  place  works  and  merit  on  the  Redeemer’s 
throne.  To  this  dreadful  charge  I answer: — i.  That  I had  rather 
my  right  hand  should  lose  its  cunning  to  all  eternity,  than  use  it  a 
moment  to  detract  from  the  Saviour’s  glory.  2.  That  the  strongest 
pleas  I produce  for  holiness  and  good  works  are  quotations  from  the 
Homilies  of  our  own  Church  as  well  as  from  the  Puritan  divines,  whom 
I cite  preferably  to  others,  because  they  held  what  you  are  taught  to 
call  the  doctrines  of  grace.  3.  That  what  I have  said  of  those  doctrines 
recommends  itself  to  every  unprejudiced  person’s  reason  and  conscience. 
4.  That  my  capital  arguments  in  favour  of  practical  Christianity  are 


he  settled  as  the  pastor  of  a dissenting  congregation  in  Bristol.  He 
died  in  1773.  He  was  a man  of  considerable  abilities,  and  compiled 
and  published  a volume  which  he  entitled  The  Beauties  of  the  Poets.” 

’ One  of  the  first  masters  of  Wesley’s  Kingswood  School,  but  now  an 
ordained  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  curate  of  St.  Wer-. 
burgh  in  Bristol.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Lady  Huntingdon. 

^ The  Band-meetings  of  the  Methodists,  consisting  of  persons  selected 
from  the  Methodist  classes. 


244 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


founded  upon  our  second  justification  by  the  evidence  of  good  works  in 
the  great  day ; a doctrine  which  my  opponent  himself  cannot  help 
assenting  to.  5.  That  from  first  to  last,  when  the  meritorious  cause  of 
our  justification  is  considered,  we  set  works  aside  ; praying  God  not  to 
enter  into  judgment  with  tcs,  or  weigh  our  merits,  but  to  jar  don  our 
offences  for  Christ’s  sake  ; and  gladly  ascribing  the  whole  of  our  salva- 
tion to  His  alone  merits,  as  much  as  Calvin  or  Dr.  Crisp  does.  6.  That 
when  the  word  meriting,  deserving,  or  worthy,  which  our  Lord  uses 
again  and  again,  is  applied  to  good  works  or  good  men,  we  mean 
absolutely  nothing  but  rewardable,  or  qualified  for  the  reception  of  a 
gracious  reward.  And  7.  That  even  this  imjrojer  merit  or  reward- 
ableness  of  good  works  is  entirely  derived  from  Christ’s  jrojer  merit, 
who  works  what  is  good  in  us  ; and  from  the  gracious  promise  of  God, 
who  has  freely  engaged  Himself  to  recompense  the  fruits  of  righteous- 
ness, which  His  own  free  grace  enables  us  to  produce.” 

In  the  first  eight  of  his  letters,  Fletcher  quotes  copiously 
from  the  Liturgy,  Articles,  and  Homilies  of  the  Church  of 
England,  and  from  the  writings  of  Puritan  divines.  He  also 
minutely  examines  Mr.  Richard  Hill’s  objections  to  his 
doctrines  and  to  his  Scriptural  expositions.  Up  to  this 
point  there  is  a comparative  absence  of  his  cutting  irony  ; 
but  there  is  a great  amount  of  powerful  and  triumphant 
writing. 

In  his  ninth  letter,  addressed  to  Rowland  Hill,  he  naturally 
enough  lays  aside  the  restraint  he  had  put  upon  himself. 
Richard  Hill  was  now  a man  of  matured  life,  forty  years  of 
age  ; his  brother  Rowland  was  a young  man  of  only  twenty- 
seven.  The  former  had  not  been  sparing  in  the  use  of 
acrimonious  epithets;  the  latter  had  been  lavish.  No  wonder 
that  Fletcher  spared  not  his  youthful  opponent.  He 
wrote : — 

What  reason  have  you  to  assert,  as  you  do,  that  I ‘ have  grossly 
misrepresented  the  Scriptures and  ^ made  universal  havoc  of  every 
truth  of  the  Gospel'  ? The  first  of  these  charges  is  heavy,  the  second 
dreadful.  Let  us  see  by  what  arguments  they  are  supported.  After 
throwing  away  a good  part  of  your  book  in  passing  a long,  Calvinian, 
juvenile  sentence  upon  my  spirit  as  a writer,  you  come  at  last  to  the 
point,  and  attempt  to  explain  some  of  the  Scriptures  which  you  suppose 
I have  ‘misrepresented.’  ” 

Fletcher  proceeds  to  examine  what  he  calls  “ the  argu- 
ments” of  Rowland  Hill ; and  then  concludes,  as  follows  : — 

“Having  answered  your  objections  to  what  you  justly  call  ‘the  prin- 


Age  43.] 


Fletcher  rebukes  Rowland  Hill. 


245 


cipal  cause  of  the  controversy  among  us,’  I may  make  one  or  two  obser- 
vations  upon  the  friendliness  of  your  ^Friendly  Remarks  i 

Candid  reader,  if  thou  hast  read  my  Checks  without  prejudice,  and 
attentively  compared  them  with  the  Word  of  God,  wouldest  thou  ever 
think  that  the  following  lines  contain  an  extract  from  the  friendly 
sentence,  which  my  young  opponent  passes  upon  them  ? — ' Hard  names, 
banter,  sarcasm,  sneer,  abuse,  bravado,  low  arts  of  slander,  slanderous 
accusation,  opprobrious  name,  ill-natured  satire,  odious,  deformed, 
detestable  colours,  unfair  and  ungenerous  treatment,  terms  void  of  truth, 
unmerciful  condemnations,  false  humility,  irritating  spirit,  provoking, 
uncharitable  style,  continual  sneers,  most  odious  appellations,  abusive 
words,  notorious  scandalizing,  lines  too  dreadful  to  be  transcribed, 
unworthy  of  an  answer,  beneath  contempt,  most  indecent  ridicule,  a 
wretched  conclusion,  as  bitter  as  gall,  and  slanders  which  ought  even 
to  make  a Turk  blush/ 

If  thou  canst  not  yet  see,  gentle  reader,  into  the  nature  of  Mr. 
Rowland  HiW s ' Remarks,'  peruse  the  ioWoWmg  friendly  sentences. 

‘ In  regard  to  the  fopperies  of  religion,  you  certainly  differ  from  the 
Popish  priest  of  Madeley.  You  have  made  universal  havoc  of  every 
truth  of  the  Gospel.  You  have  invented  dreadful  slanders.  You  plenti- 
fully stigmatize  many  with  the  most  unkindly  language.  You  have 
blackened  our  principles,  and  scandalized  our  practice.  You  place  us 
in  a manner  among  murderers.  It  shocks  me  to  follow  you.  Our 
characters  lie  bleeding  under  the  cruelty  of  your  pen,  and  complain 
loudly  against  your  great  injustice.  Blush  for  the  characters  you  have 
injured  by  the  rashness  and  bitterness  of  your  pen.  You  have  invented 
a set  of  monsters,  and  raised  a hideous  ghost,  by  your  own  spells  and 
incantations  of  banter  and  contempt.  Numberless  sneers,  taunts,  and 
sarcasms  dreadfully  decorate  the  whole  of  your  performance  : they  are 
nothing  better  than  infernal  terms  of  darkness,  which  it  is  hateful  to 
transcribe.’ 

‘‘When  I cast  my  eyes  upon  this  extract,  I cannot  help  crying  out, 
‘ If  this  is  my  antagonist’s  friendliness,  alas  ! what  will  be  his  dis- 
^pleasure  ? And  what  have  I done  to  deserve  these  tokens  of  Calvinian 
benevolence  ? Why  are  these  flowers  of  Geneva  rhetoric  so  plentifully 
heaped  upon  my  head  ? 

“ Sir,  I do  not  intimate  that  I have  done  nothing  displeasing  to  you. 
Far  from  insinuating  it,  I shall  present  my  readers  with  a list  of  the 
manifold,  but  well-meant  provocations,  which  have  procured  me  your 
public  correspondence.  I say,  well-meant  provocations ; for  all  I want 
\,o  provoke  any  one  to  is  love  and  good  works. 

“ I.  I have  written  my  Checks  with  the  confidence  with  which  the 
clear  dictates  of  reason,  and  the  full  testimonies  of  Scripture,  usually 
inspire  those  who  love  what  they  esteem  truth  more  than  they  do  their 
dearest  friends. 

“2.  After  speaking  most  honourably  of  many  Calvinists,  even  of  all 
that  are  pious,  I have  taken  the  liberty  to  insinuate,  that  the  schemes 
of  finished  salvation,  and  imputed  righteousness,  will  no  more  save  a 


246 


WesUy  s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


Calvinist  guilty  of^r<3:c//(f<3:/Antinomianism,  than  the  doctrine  oi general 
redemption  will  save  an  ungodly  remonstrant.  Thus  I have  made  no 
ditference  between  the  backsliding  elect  of  the  Lock/  and  the  apostates 
of  the  Foundery,  when  death  overtakes  them  in  their  sins,  and  in  their 
blood. 

‘'3.  I have  maintained  that  our  Lord  did  not  speak  an  untruth  when 
He  said,  In  the  day  of  jttdg?neitt,  by  thy  words  shalt  thou  be  justified ; 
and  that  St.  Paul  did  not  propagate  heresy  when  he  wrote.  Work  out 
your  own  salvation. 

^‘4.  I have  sprinkled  with  the  salt  of  irony  your  favourite  doctrine 
('Friendly  Remarks,’  p.  39),  'Salvation  wholly  depends  upon  the  purpose 
of  God  according  to  election,  without  any  respect  to  what  may  be  in 
them,’  i.e.  the  elect.  Now,  Sir,  as  by  the  doctrine  of  undeniable  conse- 
quences, he  who  receives  a guinea  with  the  king' s head  on  the  one  side 
cannot  but  receive  the  lions  on  the  other  side ; so  he  that  admits  the 
preceding  proposition,  cannot  but  admit  the  inseparable  counterpart, 
namely,  the  following  proposition,  which  every  attentive  and  unprejudiced 
person  sees  written  in  blood  upon  that  side  of  Calvin’s  standard  which 
is  generally  kept  out  of  sight,  ' Damnation  wholly  depends  upon  the 
purpose  of  God  according  to  reprobation,  without  respect  to  what  may 
be  in  the  reprobates.’  Here  is  no  'inventing  a monstrous  creed,’  but 
merely  turning  the  leaf  of  your  own,  and  reading  what  is  written  there, 
namely,  damnatio7i  fi?zished,  evidently  answering  to  finished  salvatioizi^ 

Fletcher  admits  that  he  had  used  irony  in  his  Checks,  not, 
however,  because  he  liked  it,  but  because  he  found  it  needful. 
He  writes  : — 

" If  I make  use  of  irony  in  my  Checks,  it  is  not  from  ^spleen,'  but 
reaso7i.  It  appears  to  me  that  the  subject  requires  it,  and  that  ridicu- 
lous  error  is  to  be  turned  out  of  the  temple  of  truth,  not  only  with 
scriptural  argument,  which  is  the  sword  of  the  Spirit^  but  also  with 
mild  irony ^ which  is  a proper  scourge  for  a glaring  and  obstinate 
mistake.” 

Holding  such  a view,  he  introduces,  in  one  of  the  two 
letters  addressed  to  Richard  and  Rowland  Hill  unitedly,  an 
illustration  of  the  absurdities  involved  in  Calvinism,  which, 
perhaps,  is  as  severe  as  anything  that  his  Checks  contain. 
The  extract  is  long,  but  must  be  given  unabridged. 

"You  decry  ' illustrations,’  and  I do  not  wonder  at  it ; for  they  carry 
light  into  Babel,  where  it  is  not  desired.  The  father  of  error  begets 
dark)zess  and  co7tfusion.  From  darkness  and  confusion  springs  Cal- 
vinism^  who,  wrapping  himself  up  in  some  garments  he  has  stolen  from 


The  Lock  Hospital,  where  Martin  Madan  was  Chaplain. 


Age  43.] 


Absurdities  of  Calvinism. 


247 


the  truth,  deceives  the  nations,  and  gets  himself  reverenced  in  a dark 
temple,  as  if  he  were  the  pure  and  free  Gospel. 

^‘To  bring  him  to  a shameful  end,  we  need  not  stab  him  with  the 
dagger  oi^  calumny or  put  him  upon  the  oi persecution.  Let 
him  only  be  dragged  out  of  his  obscurity,  and  brought  unmasked  to 
open  light.  The  silent  beams  of  truth  will  pierce  him  through  ! Light 
alone  will  torture  him  to  death,  as  the  meridian  sun  does  a bird  of  night 
that  cannot  fly  from  the  gentle  operation  of  its  beams. 

“ May  the  following  illustration  dart  at  least  one  luminous  beam 
into  the  profound  darkness  in  which  your  venerable  Diana  delights  to 
dwell ! And  may  it  show  the  Christian  world  that  we  do  not  ^ slander 
you,^  when  we  assert,  you  inadvertently  destroy  God’s  law,  and  cast 
the  Redeemer’s  crown  lo  the  ground:  and  that  when  you  say,  ^ In 
point  of  justification  ’ (and  consequently  of  condemnation)  ‘ we  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  law  : we  are  under  the  law  as  a rule  of  life 
but  not  as  a rule  of  judgment,  you  might  as  well  say,  ^We  are  under 
no  law,  and  consequently  no  longer  accountable  for  our  actions.’ 

The  King,  whom  I sicppose  in  love  with  your  doctrines  of  free  grace 
and  free  wrath,  by  the  advice  of  a predestinarian  council  and  parliament, 
issues  out  a Gospel  proclamation,  directed,  ^To  all  his  dear  subjects, 
and  people,  the  Eiiglish’  By  this  evangelical  manifesto  they  are 
informed,  ‘That  in  consideration  of  the  Prince  of  Wales’s  meritorious 
intercession,  and  perfect  obedience  to  the  laws  of  England,  all  the 
penalties  annexed  to  the  breaking  of  those  laws  are  now  abolished  with 
respect  to  Englishmen  : That  His  Majesty  freely  pardons  all  his  sub- 
jects, who  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be  guilty  of  adultery,  murder,  or  trea- 
son: That  all  their  crimes,  “past,  present,  and  to  come,  are  for  ever  and 
for  ever  cancelled ’ That,  nevertheless,  his  loving  subjects,  who  remain 
strangers  to  their  privileges,  shall  still  be  served  with  sham  warrants 
according  to  law,  and  frightened  out  of  their  wits,  till  they  have  learned 
to  plead  they  are  Englishmen  [i.e.  elect) : And  then  they  shall  set  at 
defiance  all  legalists,  that  is,  all  those  who  shall  dare  to  deal  with  them 
according  to  law : And  that,  excepting  the  case  of  the  above-mentioned 
false  prosecution  of  his  chosen  people,  none  of  them  shall  ever  be 
molested  for  the  breach  of  any  law.’ 

“ By  the  same  supreme  authority,  it  is  likewise  enacted,  that  all  the 
laws  shall  continue  in  force  against  foreigners,  {j.e.  reprobates)  whom 
the  King  and  the  Prince  hate  with  everlasting  hatred,  and  to  whom 
they  have  agreed  never  to  show  mercy  : That,  accordingly,  they  shall 
be  prosecuted  to  the  utmost  rigour  of  every  statute,  till  they  are  all 
hanged  or  burned  out  of  the  way : And  that,  supposing  no  personal 
olfence  can  be  proved  against  them,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  hang  them  in 
chains  for  the  crime  of  one  of  their  forefathers,  to  set  forth  the  King’s 
wonderful  justice,  display  his  glorious  sovereignty,  and  make  his 
chosen  people  relish  the  better  their  sweet,  distinguishing  privileges  as 
Englishmen. 

“ Moreover,  His  Majesty,  who  loves  order  and  harmon}%  charges  his 
loving  subjects  to  consider  still  the  statutes  of  England,  which  are  in 


248 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


force  against  foreigners,  as  very  good  rules  of  life  for  the  English, 
which  they  will  do  well  to  follow,  but  better  to  break  ; because  every 
breach  of  those  rules  will  work  for  their  good,  and  make  them  sing 
louder  the  faithfulness  of  the  King,  the  goodness  of  the  Prince,  and  the 
sweetness  of  this  Gospel  proclamation. 

Again,  as  nothing  is  so  displeasing  to  the  King  as  legality,  which 
he  hates  even  more  than  extortion  and  whoredom ; lest  any  of  his  dear 
people,  who  have  acted  the  part  of  a strumpet,  robber,  murderer,  or 
traitor,  should,  through  the  remains  of  their  inbred  corruption,  and 
ridiculous  legality,  mourn  too  deeply  for  breaking  some  of  their  rules 
of  life,  our  gracious  Monarch  solemnly  assures  them,  that,  though  he 
highly  disapproves  of  adultery  and  murder,  yet  these  breaches  of  rules 
are  not  worse,  in  his  sight,  than  a wandering  thought  in  speaking  to 
him,  or  a moment’s  dulness  in  his  service  : That  robbers,  therefore, 
and  traitors,  adulterers  and  murderers,  who  are  free-born  Englishmen, 
need  not  be  at  all  uneasy  about  losing  his  royal  favour ; this  being 
utterly  impossible,  because  they  always  stand  complete  in  the  honesty, 
loyalty,  chastity,  and  charity  of  the  Prince. 

Moreover,  because  the  King  changes  not,  whatever  lengths  the 
English  go  in  immorality,  he  will  always  look  upon  them  as  his  pleasant 
children,  his  dear  people,  and  men  after  his  own  heart;  and  that,  on 
the  other  hand,  whatsoever  lengths  foreigners  go  in  pious  morality,  his 
gracious  Majesty  is  determined  still  to  consider  them  as  hypocrites, 
vessels  of  wrath,  and  cursed  children,  for  whom  is  reserved  the  black- 
ness of  darkness  for  ever ; because  he  always  views  them  completely 
guilty,  and  absolutely  condemned  in  a certain  robe  of  unrighteousness , 
woven  thousands  of  years  ago  by  one  of  their  ancestors.  This  deadful 
sanbenito^  His  Majesty  has  thought  fit  to  put  upon  them  by  imputation ; 
and  in  it,  it  is  his  good  pleasure  that  they  should  hang  in  adamantine 
chains,  or  burn  in  fire  unquenchable. 

Finally,  as  foreigners  are  dangerous  people,  and  may  stir  up  His 
Majesty’s  subjects  to  rebellion,  English  are  informed  that  if  any 
one  of  them,  were  he  to  come  over  from  Geneva  itself,  shall  dare  to 
insinuate  that  this  most  gracious  gospel  proclamation  is  not  according 
to  equity,  morality,  and  godliness,  the  first  Englishman  that  meets  him 
shall  have  full  leave  to  brand  him  as  a papist,  without  judge  or  jury,  in 
the  forehead  or  on  the  back,  as  he  thinks  best;  and  that,  till  he  is 
farther  proceeded  with  according  to  the  utmost  severity  of  the  law,  the 
chosen  nation  shall  be  informed,  in  the  Gospel  Magazine,  to  beware  of 
him  as  a man  who  ‘ scatters  firebrands,  arrows,  and  deaths,’  and  makes 
universal  havoc  of  every  article  of  this  sweet  gospel  proclamation. 

“Given  at  Geneva,  and  signed  by  four  of  His  Majesty’s  principal 
secretaries  of  state  for  the  predestination  department. 

“ John  Calvin.  The  Author  of  ' P.  O.’  ^ 
Dr.  Crisp.  Rowland  Hill.” 


1 A frock,  painted  with  flames  and  devils,  in  which  heretics  were 
burnt  by  the  Inquisition. 

2 Richard  Hill,  the  author  of  Pietas  Oxoniensis. 


Age  43.] 


Absurdities  of  Calvinism, 


249 


To  those  not  acquainted  with  the  Calvinian  controversy, 
this  illustration may  appear  ungenerous  and  unfair  ; but 
in  reality,  the  doctrines  it  burlesques  had  all  been  asserted 
by  Calvinists,  and  the  theological  points  involved  in  them 
had  all  been  exposed  and  controverted  by  Fletcher,  in  his 
Checks  to  Antinomianism.”  No  doubt  the  exposure  was 
unpleasant,  but  the  author  of  the  Checks  was  not  to  be 
blamed  for  this.  His  work  was  done  with  an  aching  heart 
in  the  defence  of  truth  and  righteousness. 

Fletcher’s  twelfth  Letter,  addressed  to  Richard  Hill  alone, 
dwells  altogether  on  the  doctrine  of  Imputed  Righteousness, 
which  Fletcher  describes  as  follows  : — 

Consistent  Calvinists  believe  that  if  a man  is  elected,  God  absolutely 
imputes  to  him  Christ’s  personal  righteousness,  i.e,,  the  perfect  obe- 
dience unto  death  which  Christ  performed  upon  earth.  This  is  reckoned 
to  him  for  obedience  and  righteousness,  even  while  he  is  actually  dis- 
obedient, and  before  he  has  a grain  of  inherent  righteousness.  They 
consider  this  imputation,  as  an  unconditional  and  eternal  act  of  grace, 
by  which,  not  only  a sinner’s  past  sins,  but  his  crimes  present  and  to 
come,  be  they  more  or  be  they  less,  be  they  small  or  be  they  great,  are 
for  ever  and  for  ever  covered.  He  is  justified  from  all  things. 

And,  therefore,  under  this  imputation,  he  is  perfectly  righteous  before 
God,  even  while  he  commits  adultery  or  murder.  Or,  to  use  your  own 
expression,  whatever  lengths  he  rtms,  whatever  depths  he  falls  into, 
‘ he  always  stands  . absolved,  always  complete  in  the  everlasting 
righteousness  of  the  Redeemer.  ’” 

This,  to  many  Calvinists  of  the  present  day,  will  seem  to 
be  an  extravagant  caricature  of  one  of  their  favourite  dogmas, 
but  it  must  not  be  overlooked  that  a great  part  of  Fletcher’s 
descriptive  definition  is  actually  taken  from  the  published 
writings  of  Richard  Hill.  No  wonder,  therefore,  that  Fletcher, 
with  stinging  irony,  proceeds  to  say  : — 

In  point  of  justification,  it  matters  not  how  unrighteous  a believer 
actually  is  in  himself;  because  the  robe  of  Christ’s  personal  righteous- 
ness, which,  at  his  peril,  he  must  not  attempt  to  patch  up  with  any 
personal  righteousness  of  his  own,  is  more  than  sufficient  to  adorn  him 
from  head  to  foot ; and  he  must  be  sure  to  appear  before  God  in  no 
other.  In  this  rich  garment  of  finished  salvation,  the  greatest  apostates 
shine  brighter  than  angels,  though  they  are  ‘ in  themselves  black  ’ as 
the  old  murderer,  and  filthy  as  the  brute  that  wallows  in  the  mire.  This 
* best  robe,’  as  it  is  called,  is  full-trimmed  with  such  phylacteries  as 
these, — ‘ Once  in  grace,  always  in  grace  ; ’ ' Once  justified,  eternally 


250 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


justified;'  'Once  washed,  always  fair,  undefiled,  and  without  spot.’ 
And  so  great  are  the  privileges  of  those  who  have  it  on,  that  they  can 
range  through  all  the  bogs  of  sin,  wade  through  all  the  puddles  of 
iniquity,  and  roll  themselves  in  the  thickest  mire  of  wickedness,  without 
contracting  the  least  spot  of  guilt,  or  speck  of  defilement.” 

Of  course,  Fletcher  found  no  difficulty  in  demolishing  such 
luscious  and  pernicious  nonsense  as  this. 

" If  this  doctrine  is  true,”  says  he,  "the  Divine  perfections  suffer  a 
general  eclipse;  one  half  of  the  Bible  is  erased;  St.  James’s  Epistle 
is  made  void ; defiled  religion  justly  passes  for  ' ^ure  gospel ; ’ the 
Calvinian  doctrine  of  perseverance  is  true;  and  barefaced  Antinomianism 
is  properly  recommended  as  ‘ the  doctrines  of  grace'  ” 

Fletcher’s  last  letter,  also  addressed  to  ‘‘Richard  Hill,  Esq.” 
alone,  deals  with  the  doctrine  of  Free-will  His  definition 
of  the  Methodist  doctrine  deserves  quotation. 

"We  never  supposed  that  the  natural  will  of  fallen  man  is  free  to 
good,  before  it  is  more  or  less  touched  and  rectified  by  grace.  All  we 
assert  is,  that,  whether  a man  chooses  good  or  evil,  his  will  is  free,  or 
it  does  not  deserve  the  name  of  will.  It  is  as  far  from  us  to  think  that 
man,  unassisted  by  Divine  grace,  is  sufficient  to  will  spiritual  good ; as 
to  suppose  that  when  he  wills  it  by  grace  he  does  not  will  it  freely. 
And,  therefore,  agreeably  to  our  Tenth  Article,  which  you  quote  against 
us  without  the  least  reason,  we  steadily  assert  that  we  have  no  power 
to  do  good  works,  without  the  grace  of  God  preventing  us,  not  that 
we  may  have  a free  will,  for  this  we  always  had  in  the  above-mentioned 
sense,  but  that  we  may  have  a good  will ; believing  that,  as  confirmed 
saints  and  angels  have  a free  will,  though  they  have  no  evil  will,  so 
abandoned  reprobates  and  devils  have  a free  will,  though  they  have  no 
good  will.” 

These  may  appear  to  the  cursory  reader  metaphysical 
niceties  of  no  practical  importance  ; but,  a hundred  years 
ago,  they  were  considered  doctrines  of  vital  interest.  The 
difference  between  Fletcher  and  his  Calvinian  friends  is  well 
stated  by  himself : — 

"From  our  mutual  concessions,  it  is  evident  we  agree,  i.  That  the 
will  is  always  free ; 2.  That  the  will  of  man,  considered  as  fallen  in 
Adam,  and  unassisted  by  the  grace  of  God,  is  only  free  to  evil ; and, 
3.  That  when  he  is  free  to  good,  free  to  choose  life,  he  has  this  from 
redeeming  grace. 

"But,  although  we  agree  in  those  material  points,  the  difference 
between  us  is  still  very  considerable  ; for,  we  assert,  that  through  the 


Age  43.] 


Free-  Will, 


251 


Mediator  promised  to  all  mankind  in  Adam,  God,  by  His  free  grace, 
restores  to  ALL  mankind  a talent  of  free  will  to  good,  by  which  they 
are  put  in  a capacity  of  choosing  life  or  death,  that  is,  of  acquitting 
themselves  well  or  ill,  at  their  option,  in  their  present  state  of  trial. 

^‘Thisjy^?^^  utterly  deny,  maintaining  that  man  is  not  in  a state  of 
probation  ; and  that  as  Christ  died  for  none  but  the  elect,  none  but  they 
can  ever  have  any  degree  of  saving  grace,  that  is,  any  free  will  to 
good.  Hence,  you  conclude  that  all  the  elect  are  in  a state  of  finished 
salvation ; and  necessarily , infallibly , and  irresistibly  choose  life ; 
while  all  the  reprobates  are  shut  up  in  a state  of  finished  damnation  ; 
and  necessarily , infallibly , and  irresistibly  choose  death. 

‘‘We  are  obliged  to  oppose  this  doctrine,  because  it  appears  to  us  a 
doctrine  of  wrath,  rather  than  a doctrine  of  grace.  If  we  are  not 
mistaken,  it  is  opposite  to  the  general  tenor  of  the  Scriptures,  injurious 
to  all  the  Divine  perfections,  and  subversive  of  this  fundamental  truth  of 
natural  and  revealed  religion,  God  shall  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
ness.  It  is  calculated  to  strengthen  the  carnal  security  of  Laodicean 
professors,  raise  horrid  anxieties  in  the  minds  of  doubting  Christians, 
and  give  damned  spirits  just  ground  to  blaspheme  to  all  eternity. 
Again,  it  withdraws  from  thinking  sinners  and  judicious  saints  the 
helps  which  God  has  given  them,  by  multitudes  of  conditional  promises 
and  threatenings,  designed  to  work  upon  their  hojes  and  fears.  And, 
while  it  unnecessarily  stumbles  men  of  sense  and  hardens  infidels,  it 
affords  wicked  men  rational  excuses  to  continue  in  their  sins,  and  gives 
desperate  offenders  full  room  to  charge  not  only  Adam,  but  God  Him- 
self, with  all  their  enormities.’’ 

In  this  piteous  way  did  the  evangelical  revivalists  of  the 
last  century  become  divided.  It  was  a mournful  scene  ; but, 
in  the  long  run,  it  was  over-ruled  for  good.  Error  was 
crushed,  and  truth  rose  triumphant.  Meanwhile,  on  one 
side  at  least,  great  bitterness  was  engendered,  and  lamentable 
epithets  were  used.  In  the  hottest  of  the  fray,  however, 
Fletcher,  the  chief  combatant,  never  lost  his  temper.  Hence, 
in  concluding  his  ‘‘  Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism,”  he 
wrote  : — 

“Although  we  severely  expose  the  mistakes  of  godly  Calvinists,  we 
sincerely  love  their  persons,  truly  reverence  their  piety,  and  cordially 
rejoice  in  the  success  which  attends  their  evangelical  labours.  And, 
although  we  cannot  admit  their  logic,  while  they  defend  a bad  cause 
with  bad  arguments,  we  should  do  them  great  injustice  if  we  did  not 
acknowledge  that  there  have  been,  and  are  still  among  them,  men 
eminent  for  good  sense  and  good  learning — men  as  remarkable  for 
their  skill  in  the  art  of  logic,  as  for  their  deep  acquaintance  with  the 
oracles  of  God.  We  thank  them  for  their  pious  labours;  we  ask  the 
continuance,  or  the  renewal,  of  their  valuable  love.  We  invite  them  to 


252 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


our  pulpits;  and  assure  them  that,  if  they  admit  us  into  theirs,  we 
shall  do  by  them  as  we  would  be  done  by, — avoiding  to  touch  there, 
or  among  their  own  people  occasionally  committed  to  our  charge,  upon 
the  points  of  doctrine  debated  between  us ; and  reserving  to  ourselves 
the  liberty  of  bearing  our  full  testimony  in  our  own  pulpits,  and 
from  the  press,  against  Antinomianism  and  Pharisaism  in  all  their 
shapes.” 

There  were  other  combatants  in  the  field  whose  power 
over  themselves  was  not  so  great  and  so  praiseworthy.  Walter 
Sellon  was  one  of  them,  to  whom  Richard  Hill  addressed 
the  following,  hitherto  unpublished,  letter,  just  about  the 
time  when  the  Fourth  Check  of  Fletcher  first  appeared  : — 

''  Hawkstone,  December  24,  1772. 

Dear  Sir, — It  will  answer  no  end  for  you  and  me  to  continue  our 
disputes,  except  that  of  stirring  up  the  old  man  in  us  both.  I believe 
you  have  the  grace  of  God,  and  I am  sure  you  are  blest  with  a good 
understanding,,  which  is  well  cultivated  by  acquired  knowledge.  With 
these  endowments  and  qualifications,  I trust  it  will  please  God  to  make 
you  abundantly  useful  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  I heartily  forgive  what- 
ever has  savoured  more  of  Walter  Sellon  than  of  Jesus  Christ  in  your 
two  letters  to  me  ; and  I beg  the  same  on  behalf  of  poor  Richard  Hill. 
Come,  my  dear  Sir,  let  us  pray  for  each  other.  If  ever  I have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you  in  the  flesh,,  be  assured  that  I shall  embrace  you 
in  the  bonds  of  brotherly  love  ; if  not,  I trust  we  shall  one  day  meet  in 
a better  place,  where  there  will  be  no  other  contention  between  us  than 
who  shall  sing  loudest,  ‘ Grace,  grace  unto  it ! ’ Without  undervaluing 
myself  in  any  respect,  this  will  certainly  be  the  privilege  of  that  amazing 
monument  of  mercy  who  desires  always  to  subscribe  himself, 

‘‘Very  dear  Sir,  your  sincere  and  affectionate  friend,  in  the  best  of 
bonds,  Richard  Hill.” 

“ To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sellon, 

Ledsham,  near  Ferry  Bridge, 

Yorkshire.” 

This  polemical  chapter  cannot  be  more  fitly  concluded 
than  with  these  breathings  of  Christian  love,  to  which  may 
be  added  an  extract  from  a letter  which  Fletcher  wrote  to 
Mr.  Charles  Perronet,  who  was  suffering  great  affliction  of 
body  and  mind  : — 

“ 1772,  September  7. — My  Very  Dear  Friend, — No  cross,  no  crown ; 
the  heavier  the  cross,  the  brighter  the  crown. 

“ ‘O  for  a firm  and  lasting  faith. 

To  credit  all  the  Almighty  saith  ! ' 


Age  43.] 


Breathings  of  Christian  Love. 


253 


''  Faith,  I mean  the  evidence  of  ihmgs  not  seen,  is  a powerful  cordial 
to  support  and  exhilarate  us  under  the  heaviest  pressures  of  pain  and 
temptation.  By  faith,  we  live  upon  the  invisible,  eternal  God  ; we 
believe  that  in  Him  we  live,  move,  and  have  our  being ; insensibly  we 
slide  from  self  into  God,  from  the  visible  into  the  invisible,  from  the 
carnal  into  the  spiritual,  from  time  into  eternity.  Here  our  spirits  are 
ever  young ; they  live  in  and  upon  the  very  fountain  of  strength, 
sprightliness,  and  joy.  Oh  ! my  dear  friend,  let  us  rest  more  upon 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Of  late,  I have  been  brought  to  feed  more 
upon  Jesus  as  the  truth.  I see  more  in  Him  in  that  character  than  I 
ever  did.  I see  Christ  the  truth  of  my  life,  friends,  relations,  sense, 
food,  raiment,  light,  fire,  resting-place.  All  out  of  Him  are  but  shadows. 
All  in  Him  are  blessed  sacraments  ; I mean  visible  signs  of  the  fountain, 
or  vehicles  to  convey  the  streams  of  inward  grace. ^ 


Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


254 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1772. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

APPEAL  TO  MATTER  OF  FACT  AND  COMMON 


HE  present  chapter  is  a somewhat  inconvenient  break 


in  the  history  of  the  Calvinian  controversy  ; but  in 
maintaining  chronological  order,  the  inconvenience  cannot 
be  av^oided. 

Fletcher’s  “Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism”  was  finished 
on  November  15,  1772,  and  was  published  before  the  year 
was  terminated.  On  a fly-leaf  at  the  end  of  the  first  edition 
the  following  advertisement  was  printed  : — 

“In  a few  days  will  be  published,  price  two  shillings,  by  the  same 
author,  ‘ An  Appeal  to  Matter  of  Fact  and  Common  Sense  ; Or,  A 
Rational  Demonstration  of  Man’s  corrupt  and  lost  Estate.’  ” 

In  some  respects,  this  is  Fletcher’s  ablest  publication,  and 
certainly  it  has  been  his  most  popular.  A “ second  edition, 
revised  and  enlarged,”  was  printed  a few  months  after  the 
first,  and,  since  then,  it  has  been  scores  of  times  re-issued. 
As  early  as  the  year  1804,  Joseph  Benson,  Fletcher’s  biogra- 
pher, remarked  concerning  it,  “ I hardly  know  a treatise  that 
has  been  so  universally  read,  or  made  .so  eminently  useful.” 
Even  the  Monthly  Review  had  nought  to  say  against  it.  In 
the  number  for  March,  1773,  the  editor’s  notice  of  it  was 
the  following  : — 

“Although  we  cannot  subscribe  to  all  Mr.  Fletcher’s  religious  opinions, 
we  think  there  are  abundance  of  good  things  in  his  writings ; and  we 
have  no  doubt  that  he  is  warmly  animated  by  a sincere  and  pious  regard 
for  the  salvation  of  the  souls  that  are  committed  to  his  charge,  as  well 
as  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  mankind  in  general.” 


SENSEC 


1772. 


Age  43.]  Appeal  to  Matter  of  Fact  and  Common  Sense.  255 


It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  besides  being  vended  at 
Wesley’s  Foundery  in  London,  the  first  edition  was  also^^sold 
at  the  workhouse  in  Madeley  Wood,  Shropshire,  the  benefit 
of  the  poor!'  When  the  second  edition  was  published,  the 
workhouse^  for  some  unknown  reason,  was  not  advertised. 
Probably  parochial  officials  had  interdicted  the  sale. 

Fletcher  seems  to  have  spent  more  time  upon  his  ‘‘Appeal 
to  Matter  of  Fact  and  Common  Sense  ” than  he  did  upon 
any  of  his  “Checks  to  Antinomianism.”  Joseph  Benson  saw 
it  in  manuscript,  and  read  most  of  it,  a year  before  its  publi- 
cation. Fletcher  took  it  to  Bristol  and  left  it  there  ; but, 
before  it  was  committed  to  the  press,  he  requested  that  it 
might  be  returned  to  him  at  Madeley,  to  be  further  revised  and 
improved.  For  many  weeks,  the  manuscript  was  unheard  of, 
“ but,”  says  Benson,  “ he  was  quite  easy  under  the  appre- 
hended loss,  which  certainly  would  not  have  been  a small 
one,  as  any  person  will  judge  who  considers  how  much 
thought  and  time  such  a work  must  have  cost  him.  It  was 
found,  however,  by-and-by,  had  the  finishing  hand  put  to 
it,  and  was  published  to  the  conviction  and  edification  of 
thousands.”  ^ 

Fletcher’s  dedication  of  his  book,  highly  characteristic, 
and  embodying  biographical  facts,  deserves  attention. 

To  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  Madeley,  in  the  county 
of  Salop. 

“ Gentlemen, — You  are  no  less  entitled  to  my  private  labours  than 
the  inferior  class  of  parishioners.  As  you  do  not  choose  to  partake 
with  them  of  my  evening  instructions,  I take  the  liberty  to  present  you 
with  some  of  my  morning  meditations.  May  these  well-meant  endeavours 
of  my  pen  be  more  acceptable  to  you  than  those  of  my  tongue  ! And 
may  you  carefully  read  in  your  closets  what  you  have  perhaps  inatten- 
tively heard  in  the  church  ! I appeal  to  the  Searcher  of  hearts  that  I 
had  rather  impart  truths  than  receive  tithes.  You  kindly  bestow  the 
latter  upon  me  ; grant  me,  I pray,  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  you  favour- 
ably receive  the  former,  from,  gentlemen,  your  affectionate  minister  and 
obedient  servant, 

''Madeley,  1772.  "J.  Fletcher.” 

Fletcher’s  principal  tithe  payers  would  not  attend  his 
vening  services,  and  yet  he  was  more  anxious  to  teach  them 


1 Benson’s  " Life  of  Fletcher.” 


256 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor, 


[1772. 


“ the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,”  than  to  receive  their  pelf. 
He  loved  their  souls,  though  they  were  too  high  and 
mighty — that  is,  too  worldly  and  ignorant — to  appreciate 
his  ministry. 

Fletcher  rightly  regarded  the  doctrine  which  he  irrefutably 
establishes  as  of  the  highest  importance.  By  large  numbers 
of  men,  who  considered  themselves  good  Christians,  it  was 
treated  with  indifference,  and  in  many  instances  it  was  flatly 
denied.  With  the  exception  of  his  “ Notes  on  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,”  the  largest  as  well  as  the  ablest  book 
Wesley  ever  wrote  was  on  the  same  subject.  His  Doctrine 
of  Original  Sin  according  to  Scripture,  Reason,  and  Experi- 
ence,” was  first  published  in  1757;  and  now,  fifteen  years 
later,  his  friend  Fletcher,  doubtless  with  his  approval,  used 
his  great  talents  to  the  utmost  in  defending  the  same  dogma. 
In  both  books,  to  some  extent,  the  same  line  of  argumenta- 
tion is  followed ; but,  of  course,  Fletcher's  style  is  very  different 
from  that  of  Wesley.  Both  of  them  insisted  that  the  doctrine 
is  essential  to  the  Christian  religion,  and  that  if  it  is  not  true, 
the  Christian  religion  is  not  needed.  In  his  preface  Wesley 
wrote  : — 

If  we  take  away  this  foundation,  that  man  is  by  nature  foolish  and 
sinful,  ‘ fallen  short  of  the  glorious  image  of  God,’  the  Christian  system 
falls  at  once ; nor  will  it  deserve  so  honourable  an  appellation  as  that  of 
a ‘ cunningly  devised  fable.’  ” 

Fletcher  began  his  book  with  the  same  assertion.  His 
first  paragraph  is  as  follows  : — 

In  every  religion,  there  is  a principal  truth  or  error,  which,  like  the 
first  link  of  a chain,  necessarily  draws  after  it  all  the  parts  with  which 
it  is  essentially  connected.  This  leading  principle  in  Christianity,  dis- 
tinguished from  Deism,  is  the  doctrine  of  our  corrupt  and  lost  estate  ; 
for  if  man  is  not  at  varia7i,ce  with  his  Creator,  what  need  of  a Mediator 
between  God  and  him  ? If  he  is  not  2Ldepraved,  undone,  creature,  what 
necessity  of  so  wonderful  a Restorer  and  Saviour  as  the  Son  of  God  ? 
If  he  is  not  enslaved  to  sin,  why  is  he  redeemed  by  Jesus  Christ  ? If  he 
is  no\,  polluted,  why  must  he  washed  in  the  blood  ^that  immaculate 
Lamb  ? if  his  soul  is  not  disordered,  what  occasion  is  there  for  such 
a divine  Physician  ? If  he  is  not  helpless  and  miserable,  why  is  he 
perpetually  invited  to  secure  the  assistance  and  consolations  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  ? And,  in  a word,  if  he  is  not  born  in  sin,  why  is  a new 


Age  43.] 


The  Doctrine  of  Original  Sin. 


257 


birth  so  absolutely  necessary,  that  Christ  declares,  with  the  most  solemn 
asseverations,  without  it  no  man  can  see  the  kingdom  of  God  ? 

‘‘  This  doctrine  then  being  of  such  importance  that  genuine  Christi- 
anity stands  or  falls  with  it,  it  may  be  proper  to  state  it  at  large ; and 
as  this  cannot  be  done  in  stronger  and  plainer  words  than  those  of  the 
sacred  writers  and  our  pious  Reformers,  I beg  leave  to  collect  them  and 
present  the  reader  with  a picture  of  our  natural  estate,  drawn  at  full 
length  by  those  ancient  and  masterly  hands.” 

Fletcher  proceeds  to  do  this,  and  with  irrefutable  argu- 
ments establishes  his  doctrine  ; but  in  this  part  of  his  work 
there  is  no  need  to  follow  him.  Indeed,  his  summary  of 
Scripture  proofs  and  his  quotations  from  the  Articles,  Homi- 
lies, and  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England,  do  not  fill  more 
than  about  a dozen  pages.  His  ‘‘second  part”  he  begins 
as  follows 

As  no  man  is  bound  to  believe  what  is  contrary  to  common  sense, 
if  the  above-stated  doctrine  appears  irrational.  Scriptures,  Articles, 
Homilies,  and  Liturgy  are  quoted  in  vain.  When  men  of  parts  are 
pressed  with  their  authority,  they  start  from  it  as  an  imposition  on  their 
reason,  and  make  as  honourable  a retreat  as  they  possibly  can. 

‘^Some,  to  extricate  themselves  at  once,  set  the  Bible  aside  as  full 
of  incredible  assertions.  Others,  with  more  modesty,  plead  that  the 
Scriptures  have  been  frequently  misunderstood,  and  are  so  in  the  present 
case.  They  put  grammar,  criticism,  and  common  sense  to  the  rack, 
to  show  that  when  the  inspired  writers  say  the  human  heart  is  des;perately 
wicked,  they  mean  that  it  is  extremely  good  ; or  at  least  like  blank 
paper,  ready  to  receive  either  the  characters  of  virtue  or  of  vice.  With 
respect  to  the  testimony  of  our  Reformers,  they  would  have  you  to 
understand  that  in  this  enlightened  age  we  must  leave  their  harsh, 
uncharitable  sentiments  to  the  old  Puritans  and  the  present  Methodists. 

'‘That  such  objectors  may  subscribe  as  a solemn  truth  what  they 
have  hitherto  rejected  as  a dangerous  error,  and  that  humbled  sinners 
may  see  the  propriety  of  a heart-felt  repentance,  and  the  absolute  need 
of  an  Almighty  Redeemer,  they  are  here  presented  with  some  proofs  of 
our  depravity,  taken  from  the  astonishing  severity  of  God’s  dispensations 
towards  mankind.” 

Limited  space  renders  it  impossible  to  give  an  outline  of 
Fletcher’s  thirty-six  arguments,  all  founded  upon  the  following 
axiom  : — 

“ If  we  consider  the  Supreme  Being  as  creating  a world  for  the  mani- 
festation of  His  glory,  the  display  of  His  perfections,  and  the  communi- 
cation of  His  happiness  to  an  intelligent  creature,  whom  He  would 

17 


258 


Wesley’ s Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


attach  to  Himself  by  the  strongest  ties  of  gratitude  and  love,  we  at 
once  perceive  that  He  never  could  form  this  earth  and  man  in  their 
present  disordered,  deplorable  condition.” 

An  extract  from  the  ninth  argument  will  not  be  out  of 
place,  furnishing,  as  it  does,  a doleful  picture  of  a large 
number  of  Fletcher’s  parishioners — the  colliers,  the  barge- 
men, and  the  iron-workers. 

‘^To  go  no  farther  than  this  populous  parish;  with  what  hardships 
and  dangers  do  our  indigent  neighbours  earn  their  bread ! See  those 
who  ransack  the  bowels  of  the  earth  to  get  the  black  mineral  we  burn  ; 
how  little  is  their  lot  preferable  to  the  Spanish  felons  who  work  the 
golden  mines  ? 

They  take  their  leave  of  the  light  of  the  sun,  and,  suspended  by  a 
rope,  are  let  down  many  fathoms  perpendicularly  towards  the  centre  of 
the  globe  ; they  traverse  the  rocks  through  which  they  have  dug  their 
horizontal  ways.  The  murderer’s  cell  is  a palace  in  comparison  of  the 
black  spot  to  which  they  repair;  the  vagrant’s  posture  in  the  stocks  is 
preferable  to  that  in  which  they  labour. 

Form,  if  you  can,  an  idea  of  the  misery  of  men  kneeling,  stooping, 
or  lying  on  one  side,  to  toil  all  day  in  a confined  place,  where  a child 
could  hardly  stand ; whilst  a younger  company,  with  their  hands  and 
feet  on  the  black  dusty  ground,  and  a chain  about  their  body,  creep, 
and  drag  along,  like  four-footed  beasts,  heavy  loads  of  the  dirty  mineral, 
through  ways  almost  impassable  to  the  curious  observer. 

In  these  low  and  dreary  vaults,  all  the  elements  seem  combined 
against  them.  Destructive  damps,  and  clouds  of  noxious  dust,  infect 
the  air  they  breathe.  Sometimes  water  incessantly  distils  on  their 
naked  bodies ; or,  bursting  upon  them  in  streams,  drowns  them,  and 
deluges  their  work.  At  other  times,  pieces  of  detached  rocks  crush 
them  to  death  ; or  the  earth,  breaking  in  upon  them,  buries  them  alive. 
And  frequently  sulphureous  vapours,  kindled  in  an  instant  by  the  light 
of  their  candles,  form  subterraneous  thunder  and  lightning.  What  a 
dreadful  phenomenon  ! How  impetuous  is  the  blast ! How  fierce  the 
rolling  flames  ! How  intolerable  the  noisome  smell ! How  dreadful 
the  continued  roar  ! How  violent  and  fatal  the  explosion  ! 

‘‘Wonderful  providence!  Some  of  the  unhappy  men  have  time  to 
prostrate  themselves  ; the  fiery  scourge  grazes  their  backs  ; the  ground 
shields  their  breasts ; they  escape.  See  them  wound  up  out  of  the 
blazing  dungeon,  and  say  if  these  are  not  brands  plucked  out  of  the 
fire.  A pestiferous  steam  and  clouds  of  suffocating  smoke  pursue 
them.  Half  dead  themselves,  they  hold  their  dead  or  dying  compan- 
ions in  their  trembling  arms.  Merciful  God  of  Shadrach  I Kind  Pro- 
tector of  Meshach  I Mighty  Deliverer  of  Abednego  I Patient  Preserver 
of  rebellious  Jonah  I Will  not  these  utter  a song — a song  of  praise  to 
Thee  ? praise  ardent  as  the  flames  they  escape — lasting  as  the  life  Thou 
prolongest  ? Alas,  they  refuse  ! And  some — O tell  it  not  among  the 


Age  43]  Bargemen  and  Ironworkers  at  Madeley,  259 


heathens,  lest  they  for  ever  abhor  the  name  of  Christian — some  return 
to  the  very  pits  where  they  have  been  branded  with  sulphureous  fire  by 
the  warning  hand  of  Providence,  and  there,  sporting  themselves  again 
with  the  most  infernal  wishes,  call  aloud  for  a fire  that  cannot  be 
quenched,  and  challenge  the  Almighty  to  cast  them  into  hell,  that 
bottomless  pit  whence  there  is  no  return. 

Leave  these  black  men  at  their  perilous  work,  and  see  yonder  barge- 
men haling  that  loaded  vessel  against  wind  and  stream.  Since  the 
dawn  of  day,  they  have  wrestled  with  the  impetuous  current ; and  now 
that  it  almost  overpowers  them,  how  do  they  exert  all  their  remaining 
strength,  and  strain  their  every  nerve  ? How  are  they  bathed  in  sweat 
and  rain  ? Fastened  to  their  lines  as  horses  to  their  traces,  wherein  do 
they  differ  from  the  laborious  brutes  ? Not  in  an  erect  posture  of  the 
body,  for,  in  the  intenseness  of  their  toil,  they  bend  forward,  their  head 
is  foremost,  and  their  hands  upon  the  ground.  If  there  is  any  differ- 
ence, it  consists  in  this  : horses  are  indulged  with  a collar  to  save  their 
breasts ; and  these,  as  if  theirs  were  not  worth  saving,  draw  without 
one ; the  beasts  tug  in  patient  silence  and  mutual  harmony ; but  the 
men  with  loud  contention  and  horrible  imprecations.  O sin,  what  hast 
thou  done  ? Is  it  not  enough  that  these  drudges  should  toil  like  brutes  ? 
must  they  also  curse  one  another  like  devils  ? 

‘'If  you  have  gone  beyond  the  hearing  of  their  impious  oaths,  stop 
to  consider  the  sons  of  Vulcan  confined  to  these  forges  and  furnaces. 
Is  their  lot  much  preferable  ? A sultry  air  and  clouds  of  smoke  and 
dust  are  the  elements  in  which  they  labour.  The  confused  noise  of 
water  falling,  steam  hissing,  fire-engines  working,,  wheels  turning,  files 
creaking,  hammers  beating,  ore  bursting,  and  bellows  roaring,  form  the 
dismal  concert  that  strikes  the  ears ; while  a continual  eruption  of 
flames,  ascending  from  the  mouth  of  their  artificial  volcanoes,  dazzle 
their  eyes  with  a horrible  glare.  Massy  bars  of  hot  iron  are  the  heavy 
tools  they  handle,  cylinders  of  the  first  magnitude  the  enormous  weights 
they  heave,  vessels  full  of  melted  metal  the  dangerous  loads  they  carry, 
streams  of  the  same  burning  fluid  the  fiery  rivers  which  they  conduct 
into  the  deep  cavities  of  their  subterraneous  moulds,  and  millions  of 
flying  sparks  with  a thousand  drops  of  liquid,  hissing  iron,  the  horrible 
showers  to  which  they  are  exposed.  See  them  cast : you  would  think 
them  in  a bath  and  not  in  a furnace  ; they  bedew  the  burning  sand  with 
their  streaming  sweat ; nor  are  their  wet  garments  dried  up,  either  by  the 
fierce  fires  they  attend,  or  the  fiery  streams  which  they  manage.  Cer- 
tainly, of  all  men,  these  have  best  reason  to  remember  the  just  sentence 
of  an  offended  God  : ‘ In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  thy  bread 
all  the  days  of  thy  life.”* 

This  long  extract  is  given,  not  as  a specimen  of  Fletcher’s 
style  of  writing,  for  it  is  hardly  that,  but  as  a truthful  de- 
scription of  a large  number  of  the  poor  creatures  of  whom 
he  had  the  pastoral  oversight.  Many  a passage  of  the 
highest  kind  of  eloquence  might  be  cited  ; but  the  reader 


26o 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor, 


[1772. 


is  recommended  to  buy  and  peruse  the  book  himself.  The 
following  is  presented,  solely  because  it  refers  to  growing 
evils,  alarmingly  prevalent  among  people  who  think  them- 
selves religious  : — 

But  all  are  not  employed  in  sin  and  wickedness,  for  many  go  through 
a constant  round  of  innocent  diversions ; and  these,  at  least,  must  be 
innocent  and  happy.  Let  us  then  consider  the  amusements  of  man- 
kind, and  see  how  far  our  own  pleasures  demonstrate  our  innocence 
and  happiness. 

‘‘How  excessively  foolish  are  the  plays  of  children!  How  full  of 
mischief  and  cruelty  the  sports  of  boys  I How  vain,  foppish,  and  frothy 
the  joys  of  young  people  ! And  how  much  below  the  dignity  of  upright, 
pure  creatures,  the  snares  that  persons  of  different  sexes  lay  for  each 
other ! When  they  are  together,  is  not  this  their  favourite  amusement, 
till  they  are  deservedly  caught  in  the  net  which  they  imprudently 
spread  ? But  see  them  asunder. 

“ Here  a circle  of  idle  women,  supping  a decoction  of  Indian  herbs, 
talk  or  laugh  all  together,  like  so  many  chirping  birds,  or  chattering 
monkeys,  and,  scandal  excepted,  every  way  to  as  good  a purpose.  And 
there,  a club  of  graver  men  blow,  by  the  hour,  clouds  of  stinking  smoke 
out  of  their  mouths,  or  wash  it  down  their  throats  with  repeated  draughts 
of  intoxicating  liquors.  The  strong  fumes  have  already  reached  their 
heads,  and,  while  some  stagger  home,  others  triumphantly  keep  the 
field  of  excess ; though  one  is  already  stamped  with  the  heaviness  of 
the  ox,  another  worked  up  to  the  fierceness  and  roar  of  the  lion,  and 
a third  brought  down  to  the  filthiness  of  the  vomiting  dog. 

“Leave  them  at  their  manly  sport,  to  follow  those  musical  sounds, 
mixed  with  a noise  of  stamping,  and  you  will  find  others  profusely  per- 
spiring, and  violently  fatiguing  themselves,  in  skipping  up  and  down  a 
room  for  a whole  night,  and  ridiculously  turning  their  backs  and  faces 
to  each  other  a hundred  different  ways.  Would  not  a man  of  sense 
prefer  running  ten  miles  upon  an  useful  errand,  to  this  useless  manner 
of  losing  his  rest,  heating  his  blood,  exhausting  his  spirits,  unfitting 
himself  for  the  duties  of  the  following  day,  and  laying  the  foundation  of 
a putrid  fever  or  a consumption,  by  breathing  the  midnight  air  cor- 
rupted by  clouds  of  dust,  by  the  unwholesome  fumes  of  candles,  and  by 
the  more  pernicious  steam  that  issues  from  the  bodies  of  many  persons, 
who  use  the  strong  exercise  in  a confined  place. 

“ In  the  next  room  they  are  more  quiet,  but  are  they  more  rationally 
employed  ? Why  do  they  so  earnestly  rattle  those  ivory  cubes  ; and  so 
anxiously  study  those  packs  of  loose  and  spotted  leaves  ? Is  happiness 
graven  upon  the  one,  or  stamped  upon  the  other  ? Answer,  ye  game- 
sters, who  curse  your  stars,  as  ye  go  home  with  an  empty  purse  and 
a heart  full  of  rage. 

“ ‘We  hope  there  is  no  harm  in  taking  an  innocent  game  at  cards, ^ 
reply  a ridiculous  party  of  superannuated  ladies  ; ‘ gain  is  not  our  aim  ; 


Age  43.]  Engla7td'' s Favourite  Amusements. 


2bi 


we  only  play  to  kill  time.’  You  are  not  then  so  well  employed  as  the 
foolish  heathen  emperor,  who  amused  himself  in  killing  troublesome 
flies  and  wearisome  time  together.  The  delight  of  rational  creatures, 
much  more  of  Christians  on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  is  to  redeem,  im- 
prove, and  solidly  enjoy  time ; but  yours,  alas  ! consists  in  the  bare 
irreparable  loss  of  that  invaluable  treasure.  Oh  ! what  account  will 
you  give  of  the  souls  you  neglect,  and  the  talents  you  bury  ? 

^‘And  are  ^public  diversions  better  evidence  of  our  innocence  and 
happiness  ? ” 

Fletcher  then  proceeds  to  descant,  in  the  same  style,  on 
theatrical  performances,  annual  wakes,  horse-racing,  cock- 
fighting,  man-fighting,  and  dog-fighting  ; and  then  concludes 
his  ‘'Twenty-third  Argument,'’  as  follows  : — 

These  are  thy  favourite  amusements,  O England,  thou  centre  of  the 
civilized  world,  where  reformed  Christianity,  deep-thinking  wisdom,  and 
polite  learning,  with  all  its  refinements,  have  fixed  their  abode  ! But, 
in  the  name  of  common  sense,  how  can  we  clear  them  from  the  imputa- 
tion of  absurdity,  folly,  and  madness  ? And  by  what  means  can  they 
be  reconciled,  I will  not  say  to  the  religion  of  the  meek  Jesus,  but  to 
the  philosophy  of  a Plato,  or  the  calm  reason  of  any  thinking  man  ? 
How  perverted  must  be  the  taste,  how  irrational  and  cruel  the  diversions 
of  barbarians,  in  other  parts  of  the  globe  ! And  how  applicable  to  all 
the  wise  man’s  observation : ^ Foolishness  is  bound  up  in  the  heart  of 
a child,  and  madness  in  the  breasts  of  the  sons  of  men  ! ’ ” 

Further  extensive  extracts  from  Fletcher’s  invaluable  book 
need  not  be  given  here.  What  he  calls  his  “ Short  Defence 
of  the  Oracles  of  God”  cannot  be  perused  by  any  candid 
reader  without  the  conviction  being  produced  that  infidelity, 
in  all  its  phases,  is  the  most  unreasonable  theory  in  existence. 
P'rom  his  thirty-six  arguments, — unanswerable  arguments, — 
he  deduces  ten  inferences,  namely: — 

“ I.  If  we  are  by  nature  in  a corrupt  and  lost  estate,  the  grand  busi- 
ness of  ministers  is  to  warn  us  of  our  imminent  danger.  2.  If  we  are 
naturally  depraved  and  condemned  creatures,  self-righteousness  and 
pride  are  the  most  absurd  and  monstrous  of  all  our  sins.  3.  If  the 
corruption  of  mankind  is  universal  and  inveterate,  no  mere  creature  can 
deliver  them  from  it.  4.  If  our  guilt  is  immense,  it  cannot  be  expiated 
without  a sacrifice  of  an  infinite  dignity.  5.  If  our  spiritual  maladies 
are  both  numerous  and  mortal,  we  cannot  recover  the  spiritual  health 
that  we  enjoyed  in  our  first  parents,  but  by  the  powerful  help  of  our 
heavenly  Physician,  the  second  Adam.  6.  If  our  nature  is  so  completely 
fallen  and  totally  helpless,  that,  in  spiritual  things,  ‘we  are  not  sufficient 
of  ourselves  to  think  any  thing’  truly  good  ‘as  of  ourselves,’  it  is  plain 


262 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1772. 


we  stand  in  absolute  need  of  the  Spirit’s  assistance  to  enable  us  to  pray, 
repent,  believe,  love,  and  obey  aright.  7.  If  we  are  really  and  truly 
born  in  sin,  our  regeneration  cannot  be  a mere  metaphor,  or  a vain 
ceremony,  but  real  and  positive.  8.  If  the  fall  of  mankind  in  Adam 
does  not  consist  in  a capricious  imputation  of  his  personal  guilt,  but  in 
a real,  present  participation  of  his  depravity,  impotence,  and  misery, 
the  salvation  that  believers  have  in  Christ  is  not  a capricious  imputation 
of  His  personal  righteousness,  but  a real,  present  participation  of  His 
purity,  power,  and  blessedness,  together  with  pardon  and  acceptance. 
9.  If  the  corrupt  nature,  which  sinners  derive  from  Adam,  spontaneously 
produces  all  the  wickedness  that  overspreads  the  earth,  the  holy  nature 
which  believers  receive  from  Christ  is  spontaneously  productive  of  all 
the  fruits  of  righteousness  described  in  the  oracles  of  God.  10.  If 
corruption  and  sin  work  so  powerfully  and  sensibly  in  the  hearts  of  the 
unregenerate,  we  may,  without  deserving  the  name  of  enthusiasts,  affirm 
that  the  regenerate  are  sensible  of  the  powerful  effects  of  Divine  grace 
in  their  souls  ; or,  to  use  the  words  of  our  Seventeenth  Article,  we  may 
say,  ‘ They  feel  in  themselves  the  workings  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ.’  ” 

When  it  is  added  that  the  doctrines,  from  which  these 
inferences  are  drawn,  are  plainly  stated,  and  fully  proved,  a 
good  general  idea  of  Fletcher’s  book  will  be  given.  His 
“ Concluding  Address  to  the  Serious  Reader,  who  inquires. 
What  must  I do  to  be  saved  has  been  read  by  myriads, 
and  cannot  be  read  too  much.  The  last  two  paragraphs  of 
his  treatise  must  be  quoted  : — 

This  book  is  chiefly  recommended  to  disbelieving  moralists,  who 
deride  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  grace  through  faith  in  the  day  of 
conversion,  merely  because  they  are  not  properly  acquainted  with  our 
fallen  and  lost  estate.  And  the  Checks  are  chiefly  designed  for  dis- 
believing Antinomians,  who  rise  against  the  doctrine  of  a believer’s 
salvation  by  grace  through  the  works  of  faith  in  the  great  day,  merely 
because  they  do  not  consider  the  indispensable  necessity  of  evangelical 
obedience,  and  the  nature  of  the  day  of  judgment. 

“ In  the  A^^eal^  the  careless,  self-conceited  sinner  is  awakened  and 
humbled.  In  the  Address,  the  serious,  humbled  sinner  is  raised  up 
and  comforted.  And  in  the  Checks,  the  foolish  virgin  is  re-awakened, 
the  Laodicean  believer  reproved,  the  prodigal  son  lashed  back  to  his 
father’s  house,  and  the  upright  believer  animated  to  mend  his  pace  in 
the  way  oi  faith  working  by  love,  and  to  ^perfect  holiness  in  the  fear 
of  God r 

Such  is  Fletchers  own  accurate  account  of  the  important 
works  he  had  hitherto  committed  to  the  press. 


Age  43.] 


Wesley's  Proposal  to  Fletcher. 


263 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

WESLEYS  DESIGNATED  SUCCESSOR : THE 

PENITENT  THIEF : A DREADFUL  PHENO- 
MENON, ETC.,  ETC. 

1773- 

TO  preserve  chronological  order,  another  chapter  must  be 
interjected  before  the  history  of  the  Calvinian  contro- 
versy is  resumed. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1773,  Wesley  sent  to  Fletcher 
the  remarkable  letter  with  which  the  present  work  commences. 
He  wished  Fletcher  to  relinquish  his  vicarage,  and  to  put 
himself  into  training  to  become,  after  Wesley’s  death,  the 
“wpoccTTw?”  of  the  Methodists.  Wesley’s  health,  apparently, 
was  failing.  He  was  full  of  anxiety.  “ The  body  of  the 
preachers,”  he  wrote,  “ are  not  united  : nor  will  any  part  of 
them  submit  to  the  rest ; so  that  either  there  must  be  one 
to  preside  over  all,  or  the  work  will  indeed  come  to  an  end.” 
Subsequent  events  proved  Wesley’s  fears  to  be  unfounded  ; 
but,  for  the  time  being,  they  were  real,  and  disquieted  him. 
He  wished  to  train  his  successor,  and  to  introduce  him  to 
the  people.  He  specified  what  he  considered  to  be  the 
necessary  qualifications  of  such  a man,  and  regarded  Fletcher 
as  the  only  one  of  his  wide  acquaintance  as  possessing  them. 

Without  conferring,  therefore,  with  flesh  and  blood,”  said 
he,  come  and  strengthen  the  hands,  comfort  the  heart,  and 
share  the  labour  of  your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 
John  Wesley,” 

Fletcher’s  reply  to  Wesley’s  most  important  proposal  was 
as  follows  : — 

- '‘Madeley,  February  6,  1773. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I hope  the  Lord,  who  has  so  wonderfully 
stood  by  you  hitherto,  will  preserve  you  to  see  many  of  your  sheep,  and 
me  among  them,  enter  into  rest.  Should  Providence  call  you  first,  I 


264 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


shall  do  my  best,  by  the  Lord’s  assistance,  to  help  your  brother  to  gather 
the  wreck,  and  keep  together  those  who  are  not  absolutely  bent  to  throw 
away  the  Methodist  doctrines  and  discipline,  as  soon  as  he  that  now 
letteth  is  removed  out  of  the  way.  Every  help  will  then  be  necessary, 
and  I shall  not  be  backward  to  throw  in  my  mite. 

''  In  the  meantime,  you  sometimes  need  an  assistant  to  serve  tables, 
and  occasionally  to  fill  up  a gap.  Providence  visibly  appointed  me  to 
that  office  many  years  ago.  And  though  it  no  less  evidently  called  me 
hither,  yet  I have  not  been  without  doubt,  especially  for  some  years 
past,  whether  it  would  not  be  expedient  that  I should  resume  my  office 
as  your  deacon ; not  with  any  view  of  presiding  over  the  Methodists 
after  you ; but  to  ease  you  in  your  old  age,  and  to  be  in  the  way  of 
recovering,  and,  perhaps,  doing  more  good.  I have  sometimes  thought 
how  shameful  it  was  that  no  clergyman  should  join  you,  to  keep  in  the 
Church  the  work  God  has  enabled  you  to  carry  on  therein.  And,  as 
the  little  estate  I have  in  my  own  country  is  sufficient  for  my  maintenance, 
I have  thought  I would,  one  day  or  other,  offer  you  and  the  Methodists 
my  free  service.  While  my  love  of  retirement  made  me  linger,  I was 
providentially  led  to  do  something  in  Lady  Huntingdon’s  plan ; but, 
being  shut  out  there,  it  appears  to  me  I am  again  called  to  my  first 
work. 

^‘Nevertheless,  I would  not  leave  this  place,  without  a fuller  persuasion 
that  the  time  is  quite  come.  Not  that  God  uses  me  much  here,  but  I 
have  not  yet  sufficiently  cleared  my  conscience  from  the  blood  of  all 
men.  Meantime,  I beg  the  Lord  to  guide  me  by  His  counsel,  and  make 
me  willing  to  go  anywhere,  or  nowhere,  to  he  anything,  or  nothing. 

“Help  by  your  prayers,  till  you  can  bless  by  word  of  mouth.  Rev.  and 
dear  Sir,  your  willing,  though  unprofitable  servant  in  the  Gospel, 

“J.  Fletcher.”* 

Fletcher  did  not  decline  Wesley’s  proposal  ; but  he  de- 
ferred coming  to  a decision  until  “ the  time  was  quite 
come.”  Whether  the  proposal  was  afterwards  formally 
renewed,  it  is  difficult  to  determine ; but  Dr.  Whitehead, 
who,  from  1764  to  1769,  had  been  one  of  the  itinerant 
preachers,  and  who  was  well  acquainted  with  both  Wesley  and 
his  friend  Fletcher,  remarks  concerning  Wesley’s  request : — 

“This  warm  and  sincere  invitation  to  a situation  not  only  respected 
but  even  reverenced  by  so  large  a body  of  people,  must  have  been  highly 
flattering  to  Mr.  Fletcher  ; especially  as  it  came  from  a person  he  most 
sincerely  loved ; whose  superior  abilities,  learning,  and  labours  he 
admired ; and  to  whose  success  in  the  ministry  he  wished  to  give  every 
assistance  in  his  power.  But  he  well  knew  the  embarrassments  Mr. 
Wesley  met  with  in  the  government  of  the  preachers,  though  he  alone. 


Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  66. 


Age  43  ] Wesley  Respecting  Fldchcr  and  Whitefidd.  265 


under  the  providence  of  God,  had  given  existence  to  their  present 
character,  influence,  and  usefulness.  He  was  also  well  acquainted 
with  the  mutual  jealousies  the  preachers  had  of  each  other,  and  with 
their  jarring  interests  : and,  above  all,  with  the  general  determination 
which  prevailed  among  them  not  to  be  under  the  control  of  any  one 
man  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wesley.  Under  these  circumstances,  he 
saw  nothing  before  him  but  darkness,  storms,  and  tempests,  with  the 
most  threatening  dangers,  especially  if  he  should  live  to  be  alone  in  the 
office.  He  therefore  determined  not  to  launch  his  little  bark  on  so 
tempestuous  an  ocean. 

“ I cannot,  however,  but  lament  that  he  did  not  accept  Mr.  Wesley’s 
invitation,  as  he  would  have  done  much  good  while  he  lived,  and  have 
prevented  many  of  the  evils  which  have  since  taken  place.”  ^ 

The  evils  which  Dr.  Whitehead  deprecated  were  the 
resolutions  enacted  by  the  Methodist  Conferences,  held  after 
Wesley’s  decease,  respecting  the  preachers  being  allowed 
to  administer  the  sacraments  to  their  Societies,  to  hold 
services  in  Methodist  chapels  “ in  church  hours,”  and  other 
kindred  matters.  Of  all  this.  Dr.  Whitehead,  an  able  and 
honest  man,  strongly  disapproved,  and  hence  his  regret  that 
Fletcher,  by  declining  Wesley’s  invitation,  had  not  helped 
to,  at  least,  postpone  such  serious  changes. 

Wesley  foresaw  the  probability,  and  indeed  the  certainty, 
of  such  changes  being  made,  and  he  also  lamented  Fletcher’s 
decision.  Thirteen  years  afterwards,  in  commenting  upon 
Fletcher’s  letter  to  himself,  he  wrote  : — 

^ Providence,’  says  he,,  ‘ visibly  appointed  me  to  that  office  ’ [Wesley’s 
assistant]  ‘ many  years  ago.’  Is  it  any  wonder  then  that  he  should  now 
be  in  doubt  whether  he  did  right  in  confining  himself  to  one  spot  ? The 
more  I reflect  upon  it,  the  more  I am  convinced  he  had  great  reason  to 
doubt  this.  I can  never  believe  it  was  the  will  of  ‘God  that  such  a 
burning  and  shining  light  should  be  kid  under  a bushel.  No  ; instead 
of  being  confined  to  a country  village,  it  ought  to  have  shone  in  every 
corner  of  our  land.  He  was  full  as  much  called  to  sound  an  alarm 
through  all  the  nation  as  Mr.  Whitefield  himself.  Nay,  abundantly 
more  so  ; seeing  he  was  far  better  qualified  for  that  important  work. 
He  had  a more  striking  person,  equally  good  breeding,  an  equally 
winning  address,  together  with  a richer  flow  of  fancy,  a stronger  under- 
standing ; a far  greater  treasure  of  learning,  both  in  languages,  philo- 
sophy, philology,  and  divinity ; and,  above  all  (which  I can  speak  with 
fuller  assurance,  because  I had  a thorough  knowledge  both  of  one  and 
the  other),  a more  deep  and  constant  communion  with  the  Father,  and 
with  the  Son,  Jesus  Christ. 

^ Whitehead’s  ‘‘Life  of  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  356. 


266 


Wesley* s Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


''  And  yet  let  not  any  one  imagine  that  I depreciate  Mr.  Whitefield, 
or  undervalue  the  grace  of  God  and  the  extraordinary  gifts  which  his 
great  Master  vouchsafed  unto  him.  I believe  he  was  highly  favoured 
of  God ; yea,  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  ministers  that  has 
appeared  in  England,  or  perhaps  in  the  world,  during  the  present 
century.  Yet  I must  own  I have  known  many  fully  equal  to  Mr.  White- 
field,  both  in  holy  tempers  and  holiness  of  conversation  ; but  one  equal 
herein  to  Mr.  Fletcher  I have  not  known ; no,  not  in  a life  of  fourscore 
years. ^ 

No  wonder  that  Wesley  lamented  the  course  taken  by  his 
wished-for  successor  ; but  it  is  rather  difficult  to  say  why 
Wesley  should  cast  upon  him  loving  blame  for  confining  his 
light  “ to  a country  village.'^  Fletcher  s hands  were  full  of 
literary  works,  by  means  of  which  he  had  defended,  and 
continued  to  defend,  the  doctrines  which  it  was  the  object 
of  Wesley's  life  to  propagate.  Besides,  in  about  a year 
after  Wesley  made  his  proposal,  Fletcher’s  health  began  to 
fail,  and  never  after  that  was  his  physical  vigour  such  as 
to  enable  him  to  undertake  the  laborious  itinerancy  which 
Wesley  contemplated  and  desired.  Upon  the  whole,  it  is 
an  open  question  whether  Fletcher  did  not  render  greater 
service  to  Wesley  and  the  Methodists  by  continuing  his 
literary  defence  of  their  great  and  glorious  doctrines  than 
he  would  have  done  if  he  had  accepted  Wesley’s  invitation 
to  go  into  training  to  become  his  successor. 

In  other  ways,  however,  besides  his  writings,  he  rendered 
great  assistance  to  his  friend.  It  was  just  after  the  time 
when  Wesley  wrote  his  important  letter  that  an  incident 
occurred  which  is  worth  relating. 

Samuel  Bradburn,  a soldier’s  son,  was  born  at  Gibraltar 
in  1751.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  England  ; 
at  nineteen  became  a Methodist ; and  at  twenty-one  began 
to  preach.  During  his  residence  at  Gibraltar,  he  was  sent 
to  school  at  a penny  a week  ; but,  on  the  terms  being  raised 
to  three-halfpence,  his  mother  took  him  away,  finding  it 
inconvenient  to  be  at  such  an  expense  for  her  son’s  education. 
This  was  all  the  schooling  that  he  had  ; but  he  was  taught 
to  read  at  home,  and  before  he  was  eight  years  old  had 
committed  the  histories  of  Joseph  and  Samson  to  memory. 


Wesley’s  Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  68. 


Age  43*]  Samuel  Bradhurn  Visits  Fletcher. 


267 


On  coming  to  England,  his  parents  settled  at  Chester,  and 
he  himself  was  apprenticed  to  a shoemaker.  In  the  week 
preceding  Easter,  in  1773,  he  set  off  to  Madeley  to  have  an 
interview  with  Fletcher,  whose  “ Checks ''  he  had  been 
reading.  On  approaching  the  vicarage,  he  saw  a man  working 
in  the  garden,  who,  addressing  the  young  shoemaker,  said, 
“ You  see,  my  brother,  a fulfilment  of  the  curse,  ‘ In  the 
sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread.’  ” Bradburn,  stating 
who  he  was,  said  he  had  not  been  at  Madeley  before,  and 
wished  to  be  introduced  to  Mr.  Fletcher.  I am  John 
Fletcher,”  replied  the  amateur  gardener.  Bradburn,  for  the 
moment,  was  embarrassed  ; but  on  saying  that  he  had  come 
to  consult  the  vicar  of  Madeley  respecting  his  being  called 
to  engage  in  the  Christian  ministry,  Fletcher,  with  his  cha- 
racteristic generosity,  led  him  into  his  house,  and  requested 
him  to  become  his  guest.  The  invitation  was  gratefully 
accepted,  and  during  his  stay  the  young  shoemaker  was 
treated  with  paternal  kindness.  Bradburn,  like  his  host, 
was  an  early  riser,  and  every  morning  was  employed  in 
finding  the  texts  of  Scripture  which  Fletcher  wished  to  use 
in  the  “ Check  ” he  was  then  writing,  and  in  listening  to 
Fletcher’s  exposition  of  them.  When  two  or  three  hours 
had  thus  been  spent,  the  students  went  into  the  garden  of 
the  vicarage  and  had  a spell  at  any  kind  of  work  that  needed 
attention.  After  this  followed  the  plain  gruel  breakfast  and 
domestic  devotion.  Then  several  more  hours  were  employed 
in  the  vicar’s  study  ; after  which  the  master  and  the  pupil 
set  out  to  visit  the  parishioners.  Every  night  in  the  week 
young  Bradburn  preached  in  colliers’  cottages,  or  in  the 
Methodist  meeting-house,  Fletcher  standing  by  his  side,  and 
generally  supplementing  the  sermon  with  additional  remarks, 
delivered  with  delicate  tenderness,  and  always  concluded  by 
a prayer.  To  the  end  of  life,  Bradburn  thankfully  acknow- 
ledged that  he  greatly  owed  his  subsequent  eminence  to  this 
Madeley  visit.  When  he  was  leaving,  the  kind-hearted  vicar 
said,  “ My  little  David,  go  ! and  if  you  preach  forty  years, 
and  save  only  a single  soul,  don’t  think  your  time  and  labour 
have  been  lost.”  Bradburn  always  spoke  of  his  early  friend 
as  ‘‘  Saint  Fletcher  ; ” and  often  said,  that  when  he  looked 
at  the  vicar  of  Madeley  he  was  almost  ready  to  think  the 


268 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


Lord  Jesus  Christ  stood  before  him  in  the  person  of  His 
servant ; and  in  hours  of  depression,  when  he  found  it  difficult 
to  pray,  he  was  wont  to  sigh  and  cry,  “ God  of  Mr.  Fletcher, 
bless  me  ! ^ 

The  Methodist  reader  need  not  be  told  that  Fletcher’s 
humble  pupil  rose  to  great  eminence.  Unquestionably  he 
was  the  greatest  pulpit  orator  that  Wesley  ever  had.  Dr. 
Adam  Clarkej  who  knew  him  well,  once  said  to  a young 
preacher,  who  wished  his  opinion  concerning  Bradburn,  “ I 
have  never  heard  his  equal ; I can  furnish  you  with  no 
adequate  idea  of  his  powers  as  an  orator  ; we  have  not  a 
man  among  us  that  will  support  anything  like  a comparison 
with  him.  Another  Bradburn  must  be  created,  and  you 
must  hear  him  for  yourself,  before  you  can  receive  a satis- 
factory answer  to  your  inquiry.” 

In  1817,  all  the  sermons  that  Bradburn  had  published, 
whether  separately  or  in  the  Methodist  Magazine^  were  col- 
lected, and  published  in  a 12  mo.  volume  of  332  pages; 
but,  as  Dr.  Abel  Stevens  well  observes,  ‘‘  The  eloquence  of 
Bradburn,  like  that  of  Whitefield,  could  not  be  printed.” 

John  Fletcher  rendered  no  small  service  to  John  Wesley 
and  the  Methodists  by  his  brief  training  of  the  young  shoe- 
maker in  1773. 

While  writing  his  “ Checks,”  Fletcher  seems  to  have  been 
obliged  to  curtail  his  correspondence  with  his  friends.  At 
all  events,  his  published  letters  belonging  to  this  period  are 
few  in  number.  The  following  were  written  in  1773.  The 
first  was  addressed  to  his  friend  Mr.  Vaughan,  the  officer  of 
Excise  at  Atcham,  with  whom  he  became  acquainted  while 
he  had  the  charge  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  Hill  : — 

Madeley,  February  ii,  1773. 

My  Very  Dear  Friend, — At  the  beginning  of  the  week  I received 
your  kind  letter,  and  your  kind  present  at  the  end  of  it.  For  both  I 
heartily  thank  you.  Nevertheless,  I could  wish  it  were  your  last  present, 
for  I find  it  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive  ; and  in  point  of  the 
good  things  of  this  life  my  body  does  not  want  much,  and  I can  do  with 
what  is  more  common,  and  cheaper,  than  the  rarities  you  ply  me  with. 

‘‘Your  bounty  upon  bounty  reminds  me  of  the  repeated  mercies  of 
our  God.  They  follow  one  another  as  wave  does  wave  at  sea  ; and  all 


^ Miss  Bradburn’s  MSS.,  and  MS.  by  Mr.  Harrison,  of  Chester. 


Age  44.] 


Letters  in  1773, 


269 


to  waft  us  to  the  pleasing’  shore  of  confidence  and  gratitude,  where  we 
can  not  only  cast  anchor  near,  but  calmly  stand  on  the  Rock  of  Ages, 
and  defy  the  rage  of  tempests.  But  you  complain,  you  are  not  there  ; 
billows  of  temptation  drive  you  from  the  haven  where  you  would  be,  and 
you  cry  out  still,  ‘ Oh  wretched  man  / who  shall  deliver  me  ? ’ 

''  Here  I would  ask.  Are  you  willing,  really  willing,  to  be  delivered  ? 
Is  your  sin,  is  the  prevalence  of  temptation,  a burden  too  heavy  for  you 
to  bear  ? If  it  is,  if  your  complaint  is  not  a kind  of  religious  compliment, 
be  of  good  cheer — only  believe.  Look  up  ! for  your  redemption  draweth 
near.  He  is  near  that  delivers,  that  justifies,  that  sanctifies  you.  Cast 
your  soul  upon  Him.  An  act  of  faith  will  help  you  to  a lift ; but  one  act 
of  faith  will  not  do.  Faith  must  be  our  life  ; I mean  in  co7ijunction 
with  Us  grand  object.  You  cannot  live  by  one  breath  ; you  must  breathe 
on,  and  draw  the  electric,  vital  fire  into  your  lungs  together  with  the 
air.  So  you  must  believe,  and  draw  the  Divine  power,  the  fire  of  Jesu’s 
love,  together  with  the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  which  is  the  blessed  element 
in  which  believers  live. 

My  kind  Christian  love  to  Mrs.  Vaughan.  Tell  her  I am  filled  with 
joy  in  thinking  that,  though  we  no  more  serve  the  same  earthly  master,  ^ 
yet  we  still  serve  the  same  heavenly  one ; who  will,  ere  long,  admit  us 
to  sit  with  Abraham  himself,  if  we  hold  fast  our  confidence  to  the  end. 

Beware  of  the  world.  If  you  have  losses,  be  not  cast  down,  nor 
root  in  the  earth  with  more  might  and  main  to  repair  them.  If  pros- 
perity smiles  upon  you,  you  are  in  double  danger.  Think,  my  friend, 
that  earthly  prosperity  is  like  a coloured  cloud,  which  passes  away  and 
is  soon  lost  in  the  shades  of  night  and  death.  Beware  of  hurry. 
Martha,  Martha,  one  thing  is  needful ! Choose  it,  stand  to  your  choice, 
and  the  good  part  shall  not  be  taken  from  you  by  sickness  or  death. 
God  bless  you  and  yours  with  all  that  makes  for  His  glory  and  your 
peace. 

“ I am,  my  dear  friend,  yours,  etc., 

''J.  Fletcher.”^ 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  a letter  addressed 
to  James  Ireland,  Esq.,  of  Brislington,  who  had  suggested  to 
Fletcher  the  expediency  of  publishing  in  the  French  lan- 
guage his  ‘‘  Appeal  to  Matter  of  Fact  and  Common  Sense.’’ 

‘^Madeley,  September  21,  1773. 

My  Very  Dear  Friend, — I have  considered  what  you  say  about 
the  translation  of  my  ^ Appeal ; ’ and  I think  I might  do  it  some  day ; 
nay,  I tried  to  turn  a paragraph  or  two  the  day  after  I received  your 
letter,  but  found  it  would  be  a difficult,  if  not  an  impossible  work  for  me. 


^ From  this,  it  would  appear  that  Mrs.  Vaughan,  previous  to  her 
marriage,  had  been  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Hill,  of  Tern  Hall. 

- Letters,  1791,  p.  216. 


270 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor, 


[1773- 


I am  sure  I could  not  do  it  abroad.  On  a journey,  I am  just  like  a cask 
of  wine — I am  good  for  nothing  till  I have  some  time  to  settle. 

What  you  say  about  Mr.  Wesley  adds  weight  to  your  kind  argu- 
ments. My  spiritual  circumstances  are  what  I must  look  at.  I tremble 
lest  outward  things  should  hurt  me.  The  multiplicity  of  objects  and 
avocations,  which  attend  travelling,  is  not  suited  to  my  case.  I think, 
all  things  considered,  I should  sin  against  my  conscience  in  going, 
unless  I had  a call  from  necessity^  or  from  clearer  providences. 

My  last  ' Check  ’ will  be  as  much  in  behalf  of  free  grace  as  of 
holiness  ; so  I hope,  upon  that  plan,  all  the  candid  and  moderate  will 
be  able  to  shake  hands.  It  will  be  of  a reconciling  nature  ; and  I call 
it  an  ‘ Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism.^ 

I see  life  so  short,  and  time  passes  away  with  such  rapidity,  that  I 
should  be  very  glad  to  spend  it  in  solemn  prayer ; but  it  is  necessary 
that  a man  should  have  some  exterior  occupation.  The  chief  thing  is  to 
employ  ourselves  profitably.  My  throat  is  not  formed  for  the  labours 
of  preaching.  When  I have  preached  three  or  four  times  together,  it 
inflames  and  fills  up ; and  the  efforts,  which  I am  then  obliged  to 
make,  heat  my  blood.  Thus,  I am,  by  nature,  as  well  as  by  the  cir- 
cumstances I am  in,  obliged  to  employ  my  time  in  writing  a little. 
O that  I may  be  enabled  to  do  it  to  the  glory  of  God ! 

Let  us  love  this  good  God,  who  hath  ^ so  loved  the  world,  that  He 
gave  His  Only-begotten  Son  that  we  might  not  perish,  but  have  ever- 
lasting life.'  How  sweet  is  it,  on  our  knees,  to  receive  this  Jesus,  this 
heavenly  gift,  and  to  offer  our  praises  and  thanks  to  our  heavenly 
Father  ! The  Lord  teaches  me  four  lessons  ; the  first  is  to  be  thankful 
that  I am  not  in  hell ; the  second,  to  become  nothing  before  Him  ; 
the  third,  to  receive  the  gift  of  God ; and  the  fourth  is  to  feel  my  want 
of  the  Spirit  oi  Jesus,  and  to  wait  for  it.  These  four  lessons  are  very 
deep.  O when  shall  I have  learned  them  ! Let  us  go  together  to  the 
school  of  Jesus,  and  learn  to  be  meek  and  lowly  in  heart.  Adieu  ! 

''J.  Fletcher.”^ 

The  above  is  the  first  time  that  Fletcher  complains  of  his 
throat.  This  affection,  in  itself,  apart  from  the  other  reason 
he  mentions,  was  quite  sufficient  to  justify  his  hesitancy  in 
complying  with  Wesley’s  request  to  devote  himself  to  the 
itinerancy,  and  to  train  himself  to  become  Wesley’s  successor. 

Before  returning  to  the  Calvinian  controversy,  two  other 
incidents,  belonging  to  the  year  1773,  must  be  mentioned. 

John  Wilkes,"  says  Fletcher,  ''was  born  at  Darlaston.  His  father 
dying  when  he  was  a child,  his  mother  bound  him  an  apprentice  to  a 
collier,  who  delighted  in  cock-fighting,  and  who  was  killed  by  a quan- 
tity of  coals  falling  upon  him  in  the  pit.  The  collier’s  widow,  being 


Letters,  1791,  p-  218. 


Age  44]  John  Wilkes,  the  Pe7iitent  Thief.  271 


unable  to  manage  Wilkes,  released  him  from  his  apprenticeship  for  a 
trifling  sum  of  money.  He  began  to  steal  fowls,  that  he  might  have  the 
pleasure  of  fighting  those  that  would  fight,  and  eating  those  that  would 
not.  Two  or  three  years  ago  he  was  committed  to  Stafford  jail,  and 
soon  after  publicly  whipped  for  that  offence.  From  breaking  into  hen- 
roosts, he  proceeded  to  break  into  and  to  rob  the  dwelling-house  of  a 
widow  at  Darlaston  ; and,  going  upon  the  highway,  he  robbed  a man 
of  his  watch  and  some  money.  He  was  taken,  and  recommitted  to 
Stafford  jail.^  He  took  his  trial  at  the  last  assizes;  and,  being  found 
guilty  of  the  above-mentioned  robberies,  received  sentence  of  death, 
with  another  young  man,  who  had  set  fire  to  some  barns,  and  a stack 
of  hay.” 

John  Wilkes’  eldest  sister  was  Fletcher’s  servant,  and  to 
her  the  convict  wrote  the  following  : — 

'‘Stafford  Jail,  March  17,  1773. 

“This  informs  you  of  my  being  a convict  under  sentence  of  death. 

I beg  you  will  endeavour  to  prevail  on  Mr.  Fletcher  to  grant  me  his 
interest  for  a reprieve,  by  getting  me  recommended  to  his  majesty’s 
mercy.  And  I tenderly  beg  you  will  come  over  and  see  me  here  in 
a few  days,  who  am  your  poor  unfortunate  brother, 

“John  Wilkes.” 

Fletcher  declined  to  interfere,  but  wrote  a long  letter  to 
the  convict,  dated  ‘‘  Madeley,  March  23,  1773.”  He  says  : — 

“John  Wilkes, — Your  sister  desiring  me  to  make  application  to 
some  person  in  power,  to  get  you  reprieved  for  transportation,  I take 
this  first  opportunity  of  informing  you  that  I was  once  concerned  in 
saving  a young  man  from  the  gallows,  because  he  was  condemned  for 
his  first  offence,  which  was  robbing  his  master  of  money,  and  that  I 
had  no  thanks,  but  many  upbraidings  for  my  pains ; the  poor  creature 
having  turned  out  very  bad,  done  much  mischief  before  he  left  England, 
and  being  spared,  I fear,  only  to  hurt  his  fellow-creatures,  and  fill  up 
the  measure  of  his  iniquities. 

“ Besides,  you  know,  John,  that  your  crimes  are  of  the  most  capital 
nature.  You  are  not  only  a housebreaker,  but  a highwayman,  and  a 
very  notorious  offender.  You  know  you  have  committed  crimes  enough 
to  hang  two  or  three  men,  perhaps  half-a-dozen.  And  so  far  as  I can 
gather  from  a variety  of  circumstances,  you  are  the  very  person  that 
broke  open  my  house  over  the  way,  and  robbed  the  poor  widow  who 
lives  in  it.  If  you  committed  that  robbery,  I desire  you  to  confess  it 
before  you  leave  this  world ; for  ‘ he  that  confesseth  and  forsaketh  his 
sins  shall  obtain  mercy ; ’ while  he  that  tells  lies  to  conceal  them,  pulls 
down  double  vengeance  upon  his  guilty  head. 

“ But  whether  you  committed  that  robbery  or  not,  I earnestly  desire 
that  you  will  submit  to  your  sentence.  I neither  can  nor  will  meddle 
in  that  affair;  nor  have  I any  probability  of  success  if  I did.  Apply 


272 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


then  yourself,  night  and  day,  to  the  King  of  heaven  for  grace  and 
mercy.  If  you  cry  to  Him  from  the  bottom  of  your  heart,  as  a con- 
demned dying  man,  who  deserves  hell  as  well  as  the  gallows ; if  you 
sincerely  confess  your  crimes,  and  beg  the  Son  of  God,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  to  intercede  for  you,  it  is  not  too  late  to  get  your  soul  reprieved. 
He  will  speak  for  you  to  God  Almighty ; He  will  pardon  all  your  sins  ; 
He  will  wash  you  in  His  most  precious  blood ; He  will  stand  by  you  in 
your  extremity;  He  will  deliver  you  out  of  the  hands  of  the  hellish 
executioner ; and,  though  you  have  lived  the  life  of  the  wicked.  He  will 
help  you  to  die  the  death  of  the  penitent.  He  can  feel  for  poor  con- 
demned thieves ; for  He  himself  was  condemned  to  be  hanged  on  a 
tree ; not  indeed  for  His  own  sins,  for  He  never  transgressed,  but  for 
your  crimes  and  mine/^ 

‘‘On  Saturday,  March  27,’^  continues  Fletcher  in  his  narrative,  “I 
gave  a few  lines  for  the  keeper  of  Stalford  jail,  to  Sarah  Wilkes,  the 
malefactor’s  sister,  and  to  Elizabeth  Childs,  a serious  woman,  whom 
she  had  got  to  bear  her  company ; and,  when  I had  recommended  in 
prayer  the  condemned  criminals  to  the  Redeemer’s  compassion,  and 
their  feeble  visitors  to  the  protection  of  Him  Who  can  give  wisdom  to 
the  simple,  they  set  out  to  see  John  Wilkes,  and  administer  some  spirit- 
ual comfort  to  him  before  he  launched  into  eternity.” 

The  poor  women  met  with  a rough  reception  at  Stafford 
prison.  The  jailer,  a fair  specimen  of  officials  in  other 
prisons,  at  that  period,  said,  “What  do  you  want  with  John 
Wilkes  ? to  preach  him  a sermon,  and  sing  psalms  ? I know 
very  well  what  you  are,  a parcel  of  canting  hypocrites.’^ 

Sarah  Wilkes  and  Elizabeth  Childs  showed  themselves 
to  be  apt  pupils  of  the  Vicar  of  Madeley.  In  the  Journal  of 
their  nine  days’  visit  they  wrote  : — 

“We  were  much  discouraged  at  the  jailer’s  behaviour.  So  we  agreed 
to  lay  the  matter  before  God  in  prayer,  and  beg  of  Him  that  He  would 
touch  the  jailer’s  heart,  and  cause  him  to  let  us  in.  The  next  morning, 
which  was  Sunday,  after  begging  hard  for  grace,  wisdom,  and  courage, 
we  went  to  the  prison ; and,  to  our  great  surprise,  the  turnkey  opened 
the  door,  and,  without  speaking  a word,  took  us  straight  to  the  con- 
demned men,  and  let  us  be  with  them  as  long  as  we  thought  proper ; 
a liberty  which  we  were  allowed  twice  a day  till  they  suffered.” 

John  Wilkes  confessed  to  the  two  women  that  he  had 
robbed  the  house  at  Madeley,  in  which  the  poor  widow 
lived.  He  became  a penitent.  The  nine  days’  Journal  of 
his  sister  and  Elizabeth  Childs  concludes  thus  : — 

“ Saturday,  April  3,  the  day  of  his  execution,  John  Wilkes  was  ex- 
ceeding happy,  and  employed  in  breathing  out  prayers  and  praises  to 


Age  43.] 


John  Wilkes^  the  Penitent  Thief. 


273 


God.  In  the  morning,  we  spent  about  two  hours  with  him  and  his 
fellow-prisoner,  praying  and  praising  together  in  their  dungeon,  with 
much  brokenness  of  heart,  and  many  tears  of  joy  and  sorrow;  for  we 
were  both  persuaded  that  John  Wilkes  had  saving  faith,  and  an  un- 
shaken well-grounded  confidence  that  God  would  take  him  to  glory. 

About  two  hours  before  the  execution,  which  was  between  four  and 
five  in  the  afternoon,  his  sister  asked,  ^ Dost  thou  find  thyself  happy  in 
the  Lord  ?’  To  which  he  answered,  ' Yes,  I do,  I do,  more  and  more.’ 

^^When  they  were  come  to  the  place  of  execution,  John  Wilkes’s 
companion  desired  the  spectators,  especially  young  people,  to  take 
warning  by  them ; which  was  the  more  affecting,  as  he  was  supposed 
to  be  only  about  twenty  years  old,  and  John  Wilkes  was  not  above 
nineteen.  They  sang  and  prayed  some  time  under  the  gallows ; and 
the  last  words  John  Wilkes  was  heard  to  speak  were,  ‘ Lord,  from  this 
place  receive  me  into  Thy  heavenly  kingdom  ! ’” 

Some  will  condemn  Fletcher’s  action,  or  rather  inaction, 
in  the  case  of  John  Wilkes  ; but,  a hundred  years  ago,  public 
opinion  respecting  crimes,  criminals,  and  criminal  punishment 
was  widely  different  from  the  public  opinion  of  the  present 
day.  It  certainly  seems  to  be  a savage  thing  to  hang  a 
youth  of  nineteen  years  of  age  for  thieving  ; but  the  law  of 
the  land  authorized  this  ; and  Fletcher  evidently  had  but 
little  hope  of  any  good  arising  from  reprievement  in  a case 
like  that  of  Wilkes.  Perhaps  he  was  right,  or  perhaps  he 
was  wrong.  At  all  events,  Wilkes  became  a penitent  thief, 
and,  as  such,  his  sister  and  his  sister’s  master  had  reason  to 
rejoice  and  to  give  thanks.  Fletcher  immediately  published 
a pamphlet  on  the  occasion  with  the  title,  ‘‘  The  Penitent 
Thief ; or,  a Narrative  of  Two  Women,  fearing  God,  who 
Visited  in  Prison  a Highwayman,  executed  at  Stafford, 
April  3,  1773.  With  a Letter  to  a Condemned  Malefactor. 
And  a Penitential  Office,  for  either  a true  Churchman,  or  a 
dying  Criminal,  extracted  from  the  Scriptures  and  the  Esta- 
blished Liturgy.” 

Nothing  more  need  be  said,  except  that  the  “ Penitential 
Office”  was  compiled  ‘‘entirely  from  the  Scriptures  and  the 
Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England  that  it  was  suitable  for 
either  a living  sinner  or  a dying  thief ; and  that,  to  excite, 
exercise,  and  increase  his  own  repentance,  Fletcher  himself 
was  accustomed  to  use  it  in  his  private  devotions. 

A few  weeks  after  the  execution  of  John  Wilkes  another 

18 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


274 


event  occurred,  which  must  be  noticed.  The  following  is 
taken  from  Lloyd’s  Evening  Post,  of  J une  1 1 , 1 7 7 3 : — 

An  authentic  account  of  the  earthquake  at  the  Birches,  about  a mile 
above  the  bottom  of  Coalbrookdale,  Shropshire. 

In  the  dead  of  the  night,  between  Tuesday  the  25th  and  Wednesday 
the  26th  ult.,  Samuel  Wilcocks’s  wife,  who  lived,  in  a small  house  at  the 
Birches,  was  sitting  up  in  bed,  to  take  care  of  one  of  her  children,  who 
was  ill,  when  she  perceived  the  bed  shake  under  her,  and  observed  some 
balm  tea  in  a cup  to  be  so  agitated  that  it  was  spilled. 

“ On  Thursday  morning,  the  27th,  Samuel  Wilcocks  and  John  Roberts 
(who  likewise  lived  in  the  house  at  the  Birches)  got  up  about  four  o’clock, 
and,  opening  their  window  to  see  what  the  weather  was,  observed  a crack 
in  the  ground  four  or  five  inches  wide,  and  a field  sown  with  oats  heaving 
and  rolling  like  waves  of  water.  The  trees  moved  as  if  blown  with  wind, 
though  the  air  was  calm  and  serene.  The  Severn  (in  which  at  that 
time  was  a considerable  flood)  was  much  agitated,  and  seemed  to  run 
upwards.  The  house  shook  ; and,  in  a great  fright,  Wilcocks  and 
Roberts  roused  the  rest  of  the  family,  and  ran  out  of  doors.  Immediately, 
about  thirty  acres  of  land,  with  the  hedges  and  trees  standing,  moved 
with  great  force  and  swiftness  towards  the  Severn.  Near  the  river  was 
a small  wood,  in  which  grew  twenty  large  oaks.  The  wood  was  pushed 
with  such  velocity  into  the  channel  of  the  Severn,  that  it  drove  the  bed 
of  the  river  on  the  opposite  shore  many  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
water,  where  it  lodged,  as  did  one  side  of  the  wood.  The  current  of 
the  river  was  instantly  stopped.  This  occasioned  a great  inundation 
above,  and  so  sudden  a fall  below,  that  many  fish  were  left  on  dry  land. 
The  river  took  its  course  over  a large  meadow,  and  in  three  days  wore 
a navigable  channel.  A turnpike  road  was  moved  more  than  thirty 
yards.  A barn  was  carried  about  the  same  distance,  and  was  left  as  a 
heap  of  rubbish  in  a large  chasm.  The  house  ’ ’ (in  which  Wilcocks  lived) 
received  but  little  damage  ; but  the  garden  hedge  was  removed  about 
fifty  yards.  Several  long  and  deep  chasms  are  formed  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  land  from  fourteen  to  upwards  of  thirty  yards  wide,  in  which 
are  many  pyramids  of  earth  standing,  with  the  green  turf  remaining  on 
the  tops  of  some  of  them.  The  land  on  both  sides  the  river  is  the 
property  of  Walter  Acton  Moseley,  Esq.,  who,  we  hear,  has  sustained 
a damage  of  six  or  seven  hundred  pounds. 

On  Friday,  the  28th,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley, 
preached  a sermon  upon  the  ground,  to  an  audience  of  more  than  one 
thousand  people.  In  a most  pathetic  discourse,  he  expatiated  on  the 
works  of  Divine  Providence ; recommended  his  hearers  to  prepare  for 
the  last  great  and  awful  day  ; and  expressed  the  hope  that  the  present 
dreadful  scene  would  prove  a sufficient  warning  to  them. 

''T.  Addenbrooke. 

Coalhrooke  Dale^ 

June  4,  1773-” 


Age  43-]  Fletcher' s Sermon  concerning  the  Earthquake,  275 


So  long  an  extract  from  a newspaper  would  hardly  have 
been  proper  in  a Life  of  Fletcher/'  but  for  the  fact  that 
Fletcher  himself  immediately  published  a bulky  pamphlet  of 
104  pages,  on  the  same  event.  Its  long  title  was  the  fol- 
lowing : ‘‘  A Dreadful  Phenomenon  described  and  improved. 
Being  a Particular  Account  of  the  Sudden  Stoppage  of  the 
River  Severn,  and  of  the  Terrible  Desolation  that  happened 
at  the  Birches,  between  Coalbrook  Dale  and  Buildwas  Bridge, 
in  Shropshire,  on  Thursday  morning.  May  27,  1773.  And 
the  Substance  of  a Sermon,  preached  the  next  day,  on  the 
ruins,  to  a vast  concourse  of  spectators.  By  John  Fletcher, 
Vicar  of  Madeley,  in  Shropshire,  and  Chaplain  to  the  Right 
Hon.  the  Earl  of  Buchan.  Shrewsbury,  1773.  Price,  One 
Shilling." 

Thirty-three  pages  of  Fletcher’s  publication  are  filled  with 
a description  of  the  ‘‘Dreadful  Phenomenon."  This  is  dated 
“Madeley,  July  6,  1773."  No  useful  purpose  would  be 
served  by  quoting  Fletcher’s  account  of  what  he  heard  and 
saw  ; but  the  following  extract  will  show  how  he  was  led  to 
preach  his  sermon  : — 

Should  the  reader  desire  to  know  why  I preached  upon  the  ruins,  I 
will  ingenuously  tell  him.  The  day  the  earth  opened  at  the  Birches,  as 
I considered  one  of  the  chasms,  several  of  my  parishioners  gathered 
around  me.  I observed  to  them,  that,  the  sight  before  us  was  a remark- 
able confirmation  of  the  first  argument  of  a book  called,  ^ An  Appeal  to 
Matter  of  Fact,  or  a Rational  Demonstration  of  Man's  Fallen  and  Lost 
Estate,’  which  I had  just  published,  as  a last  effort  to  awaken  to  a sense 
of  the  fear  of  God  the  careless  gentlemen  of  my  parish,  to  whom  it  is 
dedicated.  Having  a few  copies  about  me,  which  I was  going  to  present 
to  some  of  them,  I begged  leave  to  read  that  argument. 

I concluded  my  reading  and  remarks  by  thanksgiving  and  prayer ; 
and,  perceiving  that  seriousness  sat  upon  all  faces,  I told  the  people, 
that,  if  they  would  come  again  the  next  evening  to  the  same  place,  I 
would  endeavour  to  improve  the  loud  call  to  repentance,  which  God  had 
given  us  that  day. 

They  readily  consented;  and  when  \ came,  at  the  time  appointed, 
to  my  great  surprise,  I found  a vast  concourse  of  people,  and  among 
them  several  of  my  parishioners,  who  had  never  been  at  church  in  all 
their  life.  After  a prayer  and  thanksgiving  suitable  to  the  uncommon 
circumstances,  I preached  a sermon,  of  which,  so  far  as  I can  recollect, 
the  reader  may  find  the  substance,  with  some  additions,  in  the  following 
pages.  May  it  have  a better  effect  upon  him  than  it  had  upon  some 
of  the  gentlemen  who  heard  it ! Instead  of  a prayer-book,  they  pulled 


276 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


out  their  favourite  companion,  a bottle ; and  imparted  the  strong  contents 
to  each  other,  as  heartily  as  I did  the  awful  contents  of  my  text  to  the 
decent  part  of  the  congregation.  Gentle  reader,  receive  them  as  cordially 
as  they  did  their  stupifying  antidote,  and  I ask  no  more.’^ 

This,  certainly,  was  a disgraceful  scene,  but  not  so  dis- 
graceful as  that  which  occurred  a few  days  afterwards,  and 
which  Fletcher,  in  a foot-note,  relates.  Among  the  many 
thousands,  who  came  to  view  the  results  of  the  earthquake, 
were  a company  from  Bridgnorth,  headed  by  a young 
clergyman,  who  brought  music  along  with  them,  and  set  a- 
dancing  upon  the  very  place  where  the  awful  earthquake 
had  happened.’' 

The  text  of  Fletcher’s  almost  impromptu  sermon  was 
Numb.  xvi.  30 — 34.  The  sermon  itself  occupies  seventy 

pages.  Addressing  the  irreverent  “ gentlemen"  before  him, 
the  bold  preacher  cried  : — 

O ye  Christian  Dathans,  ye  lofty  Abirams,  ye,  who,  like  those  proud 
Israelites,  are  in  your  respective  parishes  ^princes  of  the  assembly, 
famous  in  the  congregation,  men  of  renown,'  the  eyes  of  this  populous 
neighbourhood  are  upon  you,  especially  the  eyes  of  poor  illiterate  colliers, 
waggoners,  and  watermen.  Do  you  not  consider  that  they  mind  your 
exam;ples,  rather  than  God’s  precepts?  Are  you  not  aware  that  they 
follow  you  as  a bleating  flock  follows  the  first  wandering  sheep  ? Because 
they  cannot  read  the  sacred  pages,  or  even  tell  the  first  letters  of  the 
alphabet,  think  you  they  cannot  read  secret  contempt  of  A Imighty  God 
on  the  sleeves,  in  which  they  sometimes  see  you  laugh  at  godliness  ? 
And  suppose  ye,  they  cannot  make  out  open  pollution  of  His  Sabbaths 
when  they  see  the  remarkable  seats,  which  you  so  frequently  leave  empty 
at  church  ? Do  you  not  know  that  the  lessons  of  practical  atheism, 
which  you  thus  give  them  in  the  free  school  of  bad  example,  they  learn 
without  delay,  practise  without  remorse,  and  teach  others  with  unwearied 
diligence  ? Alas  ! the  pattern  of  indevotion,  which  you  set  in  the  house 
of  God,  carries,  before  you  are  aware,  its  baneful  influence  through  a 
hundred  private  houses.  Oh  ! how  many  are  now  numbered  among  fhe 
dead,  who  have  taken  to  the  ways  of  destruction  by  following  you  / 
How  many  are  yet  unborn,  upon  whom  a curse  will  be  entailed,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  spreading  plague  of  irreligion,  which  their  parents  have 
caught  from  you  / And  shall  not  their  blood  be,  more  or  less,  required 
at  your  hands  ? ^ Shall  not  I visit  for  these  things,  saith  the  Lord  ? 

Shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged  on  such  a nation  as  this  ? ” ’ 

This  was  fearless  speaking,  and  not  likely  to  increase 
Fletcher's  popularity  among  his  rich,  dissolute  parishioners. 
The  following  extract  is  struck  upon  another  key  : — 


Age  43*]  Fletcher^ s Sermon  concerning  the  Earthquake,  277 


‘‘Although  we  cannot  all  ‘ sing  the  song  0/  the  Lamb, ^ yet,  glory  be 
to  God ! we  all  consider  the  patience  of  our  offended  Creator,  who, 
upon  these  ruins,  invites  us  to  repent  and  live.  The  earth,  in  the  days 
of  Moses,  opened  her  mouth,  and  dreadfully  swallowed  up  two  families. 
The  earth  yesterday  opened  her  mouth,  probably  far  wider,  and  yet 
the  only  two  families  that  lived  here  were  suffered  to  make  their  escape. 
Allelujah  ! Praise  the  Lord ! Multitudes  of  fishes  have  perished  on 
dry  ground,  and  myriads  of  land  insects  in  the  waters ; and  yet  we, 
sinful  insects  before  God,  have  neither  been  drowned  in  yesterday’s 
flood,  nor  buried  in  these  chasms:  Allelujah!  God’s  tremendous  axe 
has  been  lifted  up  ; some  of  yonder  green  trees  have  been  struck  ; and 
we,  who  are  dry  trees,  we,  cumberers  of  the  ground,  are  graciously 
spared ; Allelujah  ! The  house  of  Dathan  and  Abiram,  with  all  that 
appertained  unto  them,  descended  into  the  pit  of  destruction  ; and  we, 
who  are  loaded  with  mountains  of  sins,  stand  yet  upon  firm  ground, 
with  all  our  friends.  Allelujah  ! God,  who  might  have  commanded 
the  earth  to  swallow  up  a thronged  play-house,  the  royal  exchange,  a 
crowded  cathedral,  the  parliament  house,  or  the  king’s  palace,  has 
graciously  commanded  an  empty  barn  to  sink,  and  give  us  the  alarm. 
Allelujah  I He  might  have  ordered  such  a tract  of  land  as  this,  to 
heave,  move,  and  open  in  the  centre  of  our  populous  cities ; but  mercy 
has  inclined  Him  to  fix  upon  this  solitary  place.  Allelujah  1 He  might 
have  suffered  the  road  and  the  river  to  be  overthrown,  when  cursing 
drivers  passed  with  their  horses,  and  blaspheming  watermen  with  their 
barges ; but  His  compassion  made  Him  strike  the  warning  blow  with 
all  possible  tenderness.  ‘ O that  men  would  therefore  praise  the  Lord 
for  His  goodness,  and  declare  the  wonders  that  He  does  for  the  children 
of  men  I ’ ” 


These  two  extracts  from  the  sermon  preached  on  this 
remarkable  occasion  must  suffice ; but  one  of  Fletcher's 
foot-notes  may  be  added  : — 

“A  woman,  thirty-five  years  of  age,  passing  before  a looking-glass 
the  day  after  she  heard  this  sermon,  was  surprised  to  see  an  unusual 
paleness  upon  her  face.  She  called  her  husband,  told  him  she  was 
a dying  woman,  and  actually  died  in  a quarter  of  an  hour.  She  heard 
me  on  the  Friday,  and  I buried  her  the  Monday  following.  Another 
middle-aged  person,  who  was  also  among  my  hearers,  was  buried  the 
next  day  in  the  next  parish.  How  soon  may  we  be  called  to  give  an 
account  of  what  we  speak  or  hear,  write  or  read  / ’ ’ 

The  anti-evangelical  Monthly  Review  of  November,  1773, 
in  noticing  Fletcher's  publication,  remarked  : — 

“Mr.  Fletcher,  who  is  a man  of  learning  and  considerable  abilities, 
has  given  us  a curious  account  of  this  phenomenon,  which  has  been  so 


278 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


frequently  mentioned  in  our  newspapers.  He  has  minutely,  but  in  very 
flowery  language,  described  the  awful  appearances  left  by  this  extra- 
ordinary convulsion  of  the  earth  ; and  he  fairly  states  the  different 
opinions  which  were  formed  in  regard  to  the  cause  of  so  wonderful  an 
event.  Mr.  Fletcher  tells  us  that  he  piously  chose  to  take  advantage 
of  the  seriousness  stamped,  by  this  alarming  occurrence,  on  the  minds  of 
the  country  people,  in  order  to  press  upon  them  a proper  sense  of  the 
first  or  moral  cause  of  so  tremendous  a dispensation  ; and  this  he  has 
done  in  a manner  as  rational  as  could  be  well  expected  from  the  pecu- 
liarity of  the  occasion  and  the  known  enthusiastic  spirit  of  the  preacher.’’ 


Age  43.1 


‘‘  The  Finishing  Stroked 


279 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  FINISHING  STROKE;'  THE  CHRISTIAN 
WORLD  unmasked;'  MR,  RICHARD  HILL'S 
THREE  LETTERS," 


FTER  this  long  and  awkward  interruption,  there  must 


now  be  a return  to  the  wearisome  Calvinian  con- 
troversy. 

Early  in  the  year  1773,  Mr.  Richard  Hill  published  an 
8vo.  pamphlet  of  57  pages,  with  the  title,  ‘^The  Finishing 
Stroke  : containing  some  Strictures  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
Pamphlet,  entitled  Logica  Genevensis,  or  a Fourth  Check  to 
Antinomianism.” 

The  Finishing  Stroke  ! ” remarked  the  Monthly  Review  for  March, 
1773.  “No — we  are  afraid  not!  We  shall  certainly  have  more  last 
words  from  Shropshire.  Here  is  a fresh  attack  on  the  Vicar  of  Madeley. 
Mr.  Hill  does  not  seem  at  all  inclined  to  let  Mr.  Fletcher  remain  master 
of  the  field,  for  want  of  an  opponent,  ‘ notwithstanding  the  resolution  he 
had  formed  of  being  silent.’ — Vide  advert,  prefixed  to  the  ‘Finishing 
Stroke.’  ” 

Mr.  Hill’s  pamphlet  is  dated  January  2,  1773,  and 
addressed  to  Fletcher.  He  begins  by  saying  : — 

“Last  Saturday,  and  not  before,  I received  yom  Logica  Genevensis, 
or  Fourth  Check  to  Antinomianism ; and  am  truly  sorry  to  find  that 
neither  the  spirit  of  the  piece,  nor  the  doctrine  it  contains,  is  a jot  better 
than  what  appeared  in  the  former  Checks.” 

Mr.  Richard  Hill  was  angrier  than  ever.  Want  of  space 
renders  it  impossible  to  examine  his  theology  ; and  to  quote 
his  calumnious  accusations  is  unsavoury  work  ; and  yet  the 
latter  must  be  done,  for  the  employment  of  these  slanders  was. 


1773. 


28o 


TVesky^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


at  least,  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  controversy  was  con- 
tinued. Perhaps,  Fletcher  was  not  averse  to  fighting.  He 
liked  an  honourable  contest,  especially  if  it  was  likely  to 
repress  evil,  or  to  promote  good.  To  do  this  had  been  his 
chief,  almost  his  only  object  during  the  last  two  years  ; but 
now  his  own  reputation  was  at  stake,  and  he  was  bound  to 
defend  himself,  as  well  as  to  defend  the  doctrines  he  had 
expounded  and  enforced. 

The  purest  treasure  mortal  times  afford, 

Is  spotless  reputation  ; that  away, 

Men  are  but  gilded  loam,  or  painted  clay.’^ 

On  the  ninth  page  of  his  pamphlet,  Richard  Hill  politely 
asks  poor  Fletcher,  Can  you  wonder.  Sir,  that  we  look 
upon  you  as  a spiritual  calumniator,  and  that  we  accuse  you 
of  vile  falsehood  and  gross  perversion  } '' 

On  the  next  page,  Mr.  Hill  remarks  : — 

know.  Sir,  that  it  was  a warm  attachment  to  your  friend,  which 
occasioned  you  to  run  the  lengths  you  have  done.  But  dear  as  that 
friend  is  to  you,  truth  ought  to  be  dearer  still ; yet  the  maxim,  which 
you  seem  all  along  to  pursue,  is,  that  Mr.  Wesley  must  be  vindicated ; 
yea,  though  all  the  ministers  in  the  kingdom,  yourself  not  excepted, 
should  fall  to  the  ground.  But  what  makes  us  still  more  sensibly  feel 
the  power  of  your  pen  is  that  our  tenets  are  most  shamefully  (would  I 
could  say  unintentionally)  misrepresented,  in  order  to  prejudice  the 
world  against  us,  and  to  make  them  believe  we  hold  sentiments  which 
from  our  inmost  souls  we  most  cordially  detest ; particularly  with  regard 
to  the  doctrines  of  election  and  perseverance,  which  you  have  made  to 
stand  upon  a pillory  as  high  as  Haman^s  gallows,  dressed  up  in  a 
frightful  garb  of  your  own  invention,  and  then  pelted  them  till  all  your 
mud  and  dirt  was  exhausted. 

“Mr.  Wesley  has  nothing  to  do  but  hold  up  his  finger  in  order  to 
prevent  thousands  of  his  followers  from  ever  looking  into  anything  that 
is  written  against  his  own  faction,  and  to  make  them  believe  that  the 
Four  Checks  (as  they  are  called)  contain  the  medulla  of  the  Christian 
religion.  Be  this  as  it  will,  the  unfair  quotations  you  have  made,  and 
the  shocking  misrepresentations  and  calumnies  you  have  been  guilty  of, 
will,  for  the  future,  prevent  me  from  looking  into  any  of  your  books,  if 
you  should  write  a thousand  volumes.  So  here  the  controversy  must 
end  ; at  least  it  shall  end  for  me.’’ 

“I  cannot,  however, conclude  without  again  acknowledging  that,  in  the 
sight  of  men,  your  life  is  exemplary,  and  your  walk  outwardly  blameless  ” 
(p.  41). 

Mr.  Richard  Hill  added  a “ Postscript  ” of  ten  pages  to  his 


Age  43.] 


‘ ‘ L ogica  Wesleiensis.  ’ ’ 


281 


long  letter,  the  postscript  chiefly  consisting  of  extracts  from 
one  of  Fletcher’s  sermons,  preached  in  Madeley  Church, 
eleven  years  before,  and  of  which  Mr.  Hill  happened  to 
possess  a manuscript  copy.  The  text  was  Rom.  xi.  5,  6. 
Mr.  Hill  says  he  regards  this  sermon  as  ‘The  best  confutation  ” 
of  Wesley’s  “ Minutes,”  and  of  Fletcher’s  “ Checks  ; ” and 
that,  because  he  so  regarded  it,  he  had  actually  sent  it  to 
press  ; but,  doubting  the  fairness  and  uprightness  of  such  a 
proceeding  without  obtaining  the  preacher’s  permission,  he 
had  “ stopped  the  publication.”  Mr.  Hill,  however,  now 
published  extracts  from  the  sermon,  without  Fletcher’s  per- 
mission ; and  this  induced  Fletcher  to  re-preach  his  sermon 
with  additions  and  explanations.  This  was  done  in  Madeley 
Church,  on  May  23,  1773,  and  the  sermon,  thus  revised, 
was  published  in  the  First  Part  of  Fletcher’s  “Equal  Check  to 
Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism,”  in  1774. 

It  would  be  easy  to  pick  out  of  Mr.  Hill’s  “ Finishing 
Stroke”  not  a few  most  shameful  opprobriums.  Fletcher  is 
accused  of  “ descending  to  the  poor  illiberal  arts  of  forgery 
and  defamation,  in  order  to  blacken  his  opponents,  and  to 
establish  his  own  pernicious  principles.”  “He  had  used 
high-flown  sarcastic  declamation,  base  forgeries,  and  gross 
misrepresentations.” 

Such  were  some  of  the  acerbities  of  Richard  Hill.  He 
was  the  slanderer  ; not  Fletcher.  The  latter  was  too  much 
a gentleman,  to  say  nothing  of  his  being  a Christian,  to 
indulge  in  such  scurrilous  vituperation.  The  two  men  had 
been  engaged  in  a theological  combat ; Hill  had  been  utterly 
vanquished ; and,  instead  of  meekly  acknowledging  his  defeat, 
he  dishonourably  abused  his  victorious  opponent.  With 
respect  to  his  conversion,  he  was  more  indebted  to  Fletcher 
than  to  any  other  man  ; but  this  was  now  forgotten.  The 
Vicar  of  Madeley,  whom  he  had  so  greatly  loved,  had  become 
the  object  of  his  scorn. 

Immediately  after  the  publication  of  his  “Finishing  Stroke,” 
Mr.  Richard  Hill  committed  to  the  press  another  8vo  pam- 
phlet, of  63  pages,  entitled,  “ Logica  Wesleiensis  ; or.  The 
Farrago  Double  Distilled.  With  an  Heroic  Poem  in  Praise 
of  Mr.  John  Wesley.”  Mr.  Hill,  in  addressing  Wesley,  says  : — 
“ I have  never  seen  you  above  four  or  five  times  in  my  whole  life  ; 


282 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


■1773- 


once  in  the  pulpit  at  West  Street  Chapel;  once  at  a friend’s  house; 
and  once  or  twice,  at  my  request,  you  were  so  kind  as  to  drink  a for- 
bidden dish  of  tea  with  me,  when  I lodged  in  Vine  Street,  St.  James’s, 
as  I wanted  to  speak  to  you  concerning  a poor  man  in  your  connections.” 

By  his  own  confession,  it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Hill’s  personal 
knowledge  of  Wesley  was  very  slight,  and  yet,  in  his  “Logica 
Wesleiensis,”  he  abuses  him  more  ferociously  than  he  had 
abused  Fletcher  in  his  “Finishing  Stroke.”  Of  the  contumely 
hurled  at  Wesley,  nothing  will  be  said  here,  but  two  or  three 
extracts  concerning  Fletcher  must  be  introduced  : — 

Mr.  Fletcher  affirms  that  all  the  Protestant  Churches,  the  old  Cal- 
vinist ministers,  and  Puritan  divines,  are  on  the  side  of  the  ‘ Minutes.’ 
Mr.  Hill  makes  it  appear,  as  clear  as  the  sun,  that  this  is  a point-blank 
falsehood  as  ever  was  written”  (p.  7). 

Mr.  Wesley  revised,  corrected,  and  gave  his  own  im^rimahir  to 
all  Mr.  Fletcher’s  Checks ^ throughout  which,  Mr.  John  is  the  Alpha 
and  the  Omega”  (p.  53).^ 

Since  the  foregoing  pages  were  finished  in  manuscript,  I have  seen 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  ^ Logic  a Genevensis^  Fourth  Check  to  Antinomian- 
ism.^  Though  I fully  intended  to  have  been  silent,  the  many  perversions 
and  misrepresentations  which  I have  detected  under  the  cover  of  much 
professed  candour,  will  oblige  me  once  more  to  enter  the  lists  with  my 
able  antagonist ; but,  despairing  of  my  own  skill,  I must  beg  leave  to 
call  in  the  Vicar  of  Madeley,  to  be  my  second ; and  happily  for  this 
purpose  I have  preserved  a sermon  of  his,  which  was  preached  by  him 
only  a few  years  ago,  in  his  own  parish  church,  from  Rom.  xi.  5,  6.  I think 
it  is  by  far  the  best  refutation  of  the  unscriptural  doctrine  contained  in 
the  * Minutes,’  and  in  all  the  ^ Checks,’  which  I have  yet  seen.  As  this 
sermon  was  publicly  delivered  before  a very  numerous  congregation, 
and  copies  of  it  handed  about,  by  the  preacher’s  own  permission  ; and 
as  he  tells  us  that  he  is  determined,  God  being  his  helper,  to  preach 
the  doctrine  therein  contained,  till  his  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  his 
mouth, — no  reasonable  person  can  think  that  there  is  the  least  unfairness 
in  my  availing  myself  of  so  powerful  an  ally ; and  I solemnly  declare, 
upon  the  word  of  a Christian,  that,  in  the  few  extracts  I may  make  from 
it,  I will  not  alter  the  least  jot  or  tittle  from  the  manuscript,  and  only 
make  some  marginal  notes  and  observations  upon  it”  (p.  59). 

Mr.  Richard  Hill  might  think  there  was  nothing  unfair 
in  publishing  another  man’s  manuscript  without  his  per- 
mission ; but  men  of  honour  will  disagree  with  him.  Even 


* This  was  not  true,  at  all  events,  so  far  as  the  Fourth  Check  ” was 
concerned.  See  Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  x.,  p.  400. 


Age  43.] 


Rev.  yohn  Berridge. 


2S3 


if  the  manuscript  had  contained  doctrines  at  variance  with 
some  propounded  in  Fletcher’s  “Checks,”  what  then  ? Eleven 
years  had  elapsed  since  the  sermon  was  composed  and 
preached  ; and  surely  Fletcher  was  not  to  be  blamed  and 
lashed  if,  during  such  a lengthened  period,  he  had  modified 
some  of  his  theological  opinions.  Fletcher  had  no  choice 
left  to  him  but  to  re-examine  his  old  sermon,  and  ascertain 
if  it  contained  anything  contrary  to  the  doctrines  advocated 
in  his  “ Checks.” 

Meanwhile,  another  opponent  had  entered  the  battle-field. 
Just  at  this  juncture,  honest,  and  good,  though  eccentric, 
John  Berridge,  Vicar  of  Everton,  published  his  well-known 
book,  entitled,  “The  Christian  World  Unmasked.  Pray 
Come  and  Peep.”  i2mo,  229  pp.  The  doctrines  so  quaintly 
taught  by  Berridge  were  the  doctrines  of  Richard  Hill  and 
his  Calvinistic  friends  ; but  Berridge  was  too  loving  a Chris- 
tian to  display  Richard  Hill’s  acrimonious  spirit.  The  names 
of  Wesley  and  Fletcher  were  not  once  mentioned  in  the 
whole  of  his  performance  ; though,  of  course,  their  tenets 
were  attacked.  No  one  could  find  fault  with  this ; but 
Fletcher  felt  it  his  duty  to  answer  his  dear  old  friend  at 
Everton.  Writing  to  John  Thornton,  Esq.,  on  August  18, 
1773,  Berridge  remarked  : — 

‘‘In  a letter,  just  received  from  Mr.  Fletcher,  he  says,  ‘What  you 
have  said  about  sincere  obedience  has  touched  the  apple  of  God’s  eye, 
and  is  the  very  core  of  Antinomianism.^  You  have  done  your  best  to 
disparage  sincere  obedience,  and,  in  a pamphlet  ready  for  the  press,  I 
have  freely  exposed  what  you  have  written.’  Then  he  cries  out,  in  a 
declamatory  style,  ‘ For  God’s  sake,  let  us  only  speak  against  insincere 
and  Pharisaical  obedience.’  Indeed,  I thought  I had  been  writing 
against  insincere  obedience  throughout  the  pamphlet ; and  that  every 
one,  who  has  eyes,  must  see  it  clearly;  but  I suppose  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
spectacles  invert  objects,  and  make  people  walk  with  their  heads 
downwards.”^ 


^ In  a letter  to  the  Rev.  John  Newton,  of  Olney,  dated  September  20, 
1773,  Berridge  said,  in  his  own  quaint  style,  “The  Vicar  of  Madeley 
has  sent  me  word  that  my  prattle,  in  my  pamphlet  of  ‘ Sincere  Obedience,’ 
‘ is  the  core  of  Antinomianism,  has  exposed  St.  James,  and  touched  the 
apple  of  God’s  eye,’  and  that  he  intends  to  put  my  head  in  the  pillory, 
and  my  nose  in  the  barnacles  for  so  doing.”  (“Works  of  Berridge; 
and  Life  by  Whittingham,”’p.  386.) 

“ Works  of  Berridge  ; and  Life  by  Whittingham,”  p.  382. 


284 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


In  another  letter  to  the  same  gentleman,  dated  thirteen 
days  afterwards,  Berridge  observed  : — 

I thank  you  for  the  friendly  admonition  you  gave  me  respecting 
Mr.  Fletcher.  It  made  me  look  into  my  heart,  and  I found  some  resent- 
ment there.  What  a lurking  devil  this  pride  is  ! How  soon  he  takes 
fire,  and  yet  hides  his  head  so  demurely  in  the  embers,  that  we  do  not 
easily  discover  him  ! I think  it  is  advisable  to  write  to  Mr.  Fletcher, 
though  despairing  of  success.  His  pamphlet  will  certainly  be  published 
now  it  is  finished.  Indeed,  I have  written  to  him  aforetime  more  than 
once,  and  besought  him  to  drop  all  controversy ; but  he  seems  to  regard 
such  entreaties  as  flowing  rather  from  a fear  of  his  pen  than  a desire  of 
peace.  His  heart  is  somewhat  exalted  by  his  writings,  and  no  wonder. 
He  is  also  endowed  with  great  acuteness,  which,  though  much  admired 
by  the  world,  is  a great  obstacle  to  a quiet  childlike  spirit.  And  he  is 
at  present  eagerly  seeking  after  legal  perfection,  which  naturally  pro- 
duceth  controversial  heat.  As  Gospel  and  peace,  so  law  and  controversy 
go  hand  in  hand  together.  How  can  lawyers  live  without  strife  ? In 
such  a situation,  I know,  from  my  own  former  sad  experience,  he  will 
take  the  Scotch  thistle  for  his  motto,  Noli  me  tangere.  But  his  heart 
seemeth  very  upright,  and  his  labours  are  abundant ; and  I trust  the 
Master  will  serve  him,  by-and-by,  as  he  has  served  me, — put  him  into  a 
pickling  tub,  and  drench  him  there  soundly.  When  he  comes  out, 
dripping  all  over,  he  will  be  glad  to  cry,  ‘ Grace,  grace, ^ and  ‘a  little 
child  may  lead  him.’  We  learn  nothing  truly  of  ourselves,  or  of  grace, 
but  in  a furnace. 

“Whatever  Mr.  Fletcher  may  write  against  my  pamphlet,  I am  deter- 
mined to  make  no  reply.  I dare  not  trust  my  own  wicked  heart  in  a 
controversy.  If  my  pamphlet  is  faulty,  let  it  be  overthrown  ; if  sound, 
it  will  rise  above  any  learned  rubbish  that  is  cast  upon  it.  Indeed,  what 
signifies  my  pamphlet,  or  its  author  ? While  it  v/as  publishing,  I was 
heartily  weary  of  it ; and  have  really  been  sick  of  it  since,  and  concluded 
it  had  done  no  good  because  it  had  met  with  no  opposition.”  ^ 

Berridge  did  write  to  Fletcher.  Hence,  in  another  letter 
to  Mr.  Thornton,  he  said  : — 

“ Everton,  September  25,  1773.  I have  written  to  Mr.  Fletcher,  and 
told  him  what  was  my  intention  in  speaking  against  sincere  obedience, 
and  that  my  intention  was  manifest  enough  from  the  whole  drift  of  my 
pamphlet.  I have  also  acquainted  him  that  I am  an  enemy  to  contro- 
versy, and  that  if  his  tract  is  published,  I shall  not  rise  up  to  fight  with 
him,  but  will  be  a dead  man  before  he  kills  me.  I further  told  him  I 
was  afraid  that  Mr.  Toplady^  and  himself  were  setting  the  Christian 


1 Works  of  Berridge  ; and  Life  by  Whittingham,”  p.  384. 

2 In  the  preceding  year,  Toplady  had  published  his  scurrilous  pam- 
phlet, with  the  title,  ‘‘More  Work  for  Mr.  John  Wesley;  or,  A Vindication 
of  the  Decrees  and  Providence  of  God  from  the  Defamations  of  a late 
printed  paper,  entitled,  ‘The  Consequence  Proved.’” 


Age  43-]  Mr.  Richard  Hill  desiring  Peace. 


285 


world  on  fire,  and  the  carnal  world  in  laughter,  and  wished  they  could 
both  desist  from  controversy.  A letter  seemed  needful,  yet  I wrote  to 
him  without  any  hope  of  success,  and  it  appears  there  is  not  any.  Mr. 
Jones,  an  expelled  Oxonian,  has  just  been  with  him,  and  called  upon 
me  last  Saturday.  Mr.  Fletcher  showed  him  what  he  had  written  against 
my  pamphlet.  It  has  been  revised  by  Mr.  Wesley,  and  is  to  be  published 
shortly.’” 

Strangely  enough,  while  Berridge  was  requesting  peace 
from  Everton,  Richard  Hill  was  doing  the  same  from  Hawk- 
stone.  Berridge’s  three  letters  to  Mr.  Thornton  cover  the 
space  between  August  13,  1773,  and  September  25,  1773  ; 
and  Richard  Hill’s  three  letters  to  Fletcher,  now  to  be 
introduced,  cover  the  space  between  July  31,  1773,  and 
December  23,  1773.  Fletcher  answered  them  privately; 
but  his  answers  have  never  been  published.  Mr.  Hill’s  letters, 
too  important  to  be  omitted,  were  as  follows  : — 

''  Hawkstone,  July  31,  1773. 

“Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I am  credibly  informed  that  you  wish  to 
have  done  with  controversy,  and  that  you  are  resolved  to  publish  nothing 
more  on  the  subject  of  the  late  disputes.  Upon  the  strength  of  this 
information,  as  well  as  to  maintain  my  own  desire  of  promoting  peace, 
I shall  write  to  my  bookseller  in  London,  to  sell  no  more  of  any  of  my 
pamphlets  which  relate  to  the  ‘ Minutes  ; ’ and  for  whatever  may  have 
savoured  too  much  of  my  own  spirit,  either  in  my  answers  to  you,  or  to 
Mr.  Wesley,  I sincerely  crave  the  forgiveness  of  you  both,  and  should 
be  most  heartily  glad  if  no  person  whatever  were  to  add  another  word 
to  what  has  been  already  said  on  either  side. 

“And  permit  me  to  hint,  that  if  some  restraint  could  be  laid  upon 
several  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  preachers,  particularly  upon  one  Perronet  (of 
whose  superlatively  abusive  and  insolent  little  piece, ^ I believe,  Mr.  Charles 
Wesley  testified  his  abhorrence  from  the  pulpit),  I think,  under  God,  it 
might  be  a salutary  means  of  preventing  the  poison  of  vain  j anglings 
from  spreading  any  further.  But,  though  it  is  the  desire  of  my  soul  to 
live  in  harmony,  love,  and  friendship  with  you,  dear  Sir,  yet,  if  God  has 
ever  shown  me  anything  of  my  own  heart,  or  of  the  truths  of  His  Word, 
I must,  and  still  do  think  that  your  principles  are  exceedingly  erroneous ; 
and  of  this,  I ever  cherish  a secret  hope  that  God  will  convince  you,  in 
the  course  of  His  dealings  with  your  soul. 


1 <<  Works  of  Berridge;  and  Life  by  Whittingham,”  p.  387. 

^ Probably  Edward  Perronet’ s “ Small  Collection  in  Verse:  containing 
a Hymn  to  the  Holy  Ghost;  an  Epigram  from  the  Italian,”  etc.  Printed 
in  1772.  i2mo,  16  pp. 


286 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


^‘Wishing  }^ou  abundance  of  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  I beg  leave  to 
subscribe  myself.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  your  sincere  friend  in  the  Gospel 
of  Immanuel,  R.  Hill. 

''P.S. — I wish,  dear  Sir,  you  would  make  Mr.  Wesley  acquainted 
with  the  contents  of  this  letter ; and,  if  I stop  the  sale  of  my  books, 
I hope  that  of  the  four  ‘ Checks  ’ will  be  stopped  also.’’ 

This  letter  of  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  at  the  first  reading,  seems 
to  be  peaceable  and  friendly ; but  there  is  reason  to  fear 
that  the  principle  that  prompted  it  was  cowardice  rather 
than  courtesy.  Mr.  Hill  had  been  vanquished  more  than 
once  ; and,  naturally  enough,  he  now  wished  to  retire  from 
the  arena.  This,  however,  his  opponents  could  not  permit, 
without  sending  a shaft  after  him.  In  his  publications  just 
issued,  the  “ Finishing  Stroke,'’  and  the  Farrago  Double- 
Distilled,”  to  say  nothing  of  his  previous  ones,  he  had  most 
uncharitably  accused  Fletcher  and  Wesley  not  only  of  igno- 
rances and  mistakes,  but  of  sins.  He  had  called  Fletcher  a 
‘^calumniator;”  he  had  charged  him  with  practising  “for- 
gery and  defamation,”  and  “ gross  misrepresentations,”  and 
“ slander.”  In  the  “ Farrago  Double  Distilled,”  he  had  ac- 
cused Wesley  of  using  “ quirks,  quibbles,  evasions,  and  false 
quotations;”  and  had  designated  him  “ a chameleon.”  His 
“Heroic  Poem  in  Praise  of  Mr.  John  Wesley”  was  a dis- 
graceful production,  too  coarse  and  vulgar  to  be  quoted. 
Was  it  reasonable  to  wish  or  expect  that  no  answer  should 
be  made  to  such  imputations  } Reputation  was  as  dear  in 
the  case  of  John  Fletcher  and  John  Wesley  as  in  that  of 
Richard  Hill  ; and,  so  far  as  the  work  of  God  and  the 
interests  of  the  Church  of  Christ  were  concerned,  vastly  more 
important.  Besides,  when  Mr.  Hill  says  he  was  “ credibly 
informed  ” that  Fletcher  was  “ resolved  to  publish  nothing 
more  on  the  subject  of  the  late  disputes,”  he  was  the  victim 
of  a delusion,  for  Fletcher  was  already  preparing  his  “ Fifth 
Check  to  Antinomianism.” 

Fletcher’s  reply  to  Mr.  Hill’s  first  letter  has  never  been 
published,  but  its  import  may  be  gathered  from  Mr.  Hill’s 
second  letter  to  Fletcher,  which  was  as  follows  : — 

August,  1773. 

‘‘  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — Attendance  at  the  assizes,  and  multiplicity 
of  business  in  my  ofElce  as  a Justice  of  the  Peace,  have  prevented  my 


Age  44.]  Mr.  Richard  HilVs  Second  Letter. 


returning-  a more  speedy  answer  to  your  letter,  in  which  I find  you  com- 
plain of  my  having  treated  you  with  severity. 

This  obliges  me  to  request  you  to  call  to  mind  the  four  'Checks,’  and 
then  to  say  what  right  the  author  of  them  has  to  complain  of  severity. 
Read  the  sneering  mock  proclamation  given  by  the  four  secretaries  of 
state  of  the  predestinarian  department;  read  the  charges  brought 
against  our  celebrated  pulpits ; and,  if  you  can  still  justify  what  you 
have  advanced,  you  may  then  with  better  reason  accuse  me  of  severity. 
It  pains  me  to  bring  these  things  to  your  remembrance,  as  I was  deter- 
mined, when  I wrote  last,  to  avoid  every  shadow  of  any  accusation 
against  you  for  what  had  passed ; and  I think  you  must  acknowledge 
that  my  letter  was  friendly  ; but  your  introduction  of  the  subject  obliges 
me  to  say  what  I have.  I wish  I had  any  grounds  to  recall  what  I have 
said  concerning  your  having  laid  very  great  misrepresentations  before 
the  public,  in  your  quotations  from  Mr.  Wesley’s  ' Minutes,”  and  in 
the  harmony  you  would  make  your  readers  believe  there  is  between  the 
Reformers  and  Puritans,  and  Mr.  Wesley  and  yourself ; for  it  is  most 
sure  that  your  principles  and  theirs  are  as  wide  as  east  from  west. 

" How  far  it  may  be  fair  to  alter  the  title  of  your  sermon^  from  what  it 
stands  in  the  manuscript,  must  be  left  to  yourself ; I have  no  objection 
to  it  as  you  propose  to  print  it.  As  to  your  explanatory  notes  and 
additions  in  brackets,  you  know.  Sir,  that  by  these  you  may  easily  make 
the  sermon  itself  speak  what  language  you  see  proper.  Clarke  and 
Priestly,  by  explanatory  notes  and  additions  in  brackets,  can  explain 
away  the  divinity  of  Christ ; Socinus,  His  atonement ; and  Taylor,  the 
corruption  of  human  nature. 

"As  you  intend  to  introduce  my  worthless  name  into  your  next  pub- 
lication, I must  beg  to  decline  the  obliging  offer  you  make  of  my 
perusing  your  MSS.  I am.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir, 

" Your  sincere  friend  for  Christ’s  sake, 

"Richard  Hill.” 

Mr.  Hill's  last  letter  is  the  best  of  the  three.  It  was 
written  soon  after  his  mother’s  death,  and  a short  time 
before  Fletcher’s  ‘‘  First  Part  of  the  Fifth  Check  to  Anti- 
nomianism  ” was  published.  Fletcher  offered  to  allow  Mr. 
Hill  to  read  the  work  in  manuscript,  but,  as  Mr.  Hill  him- 
self states,  the  offer  was  declined. 

" Hawkstone,  December  23,  1773. 

" Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I take  the  liberty  of  requesting  you  to  dis- 
tribute among  the  poor  of  Madeley  the  enclosed  two  guineas,  in  such 
way  and  manner  as  you  shall  judge  fit  and  proper. 

" I sent  your  last  letter  to  my  brother  Rowland,  who  is  now  at  Totten- 


’ The  sermon  preached  in  Madeley  Church,  on  May  23,  1773,  and 
afterwards  published  in  the  " Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism.” 


288 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor, 


[1773- 


ham  Court  chapel,  and  suppose  he  received  it.  However,  I waive  saying 
anything  of  the  subject  of  it,  as  it  is  my  design  to  have  totally  done  with 
the  controversy,  which  I am  firmly  persuaded  has  not  done  me  any 
good.  Excuse  me  if  I say,  I wish  you  to  examine  closely  whether  it 
has  done  you  any.  For  my  own  part,  I desire  to  be  humbled  before 
God,  as  well  as  to  ask  your  forgiveness  and  Mr.  Wesley’s  (to  whom 
I purpose  making  a visit  of  peace  and  love  when  I go  to  London),  for 
everything  that  has  savoured  of  wrong  or  of  my  own  spirit,  in  what 
I have  written  relative  to  his  ‘ Minutes ; ’ and,  though  I believe  your 
sentiments  to  be  erroneous,  yet  I esteem  and  honour  you  for  all  you 
have  said  against  sin ; and  for  the  stand  you  have  made  for  practical 
religion  in  this  Laodicean,  Antinomian  age ; and  truly  concerned  should 
I be,  if  any  expressions  have  dropped  from  my  pen,  which  might  make 
the  readers  think  lightly  of  sin,  under  the  notion  of  honouring  the 
Saviour  from  sin.  But  as  God  can  bear  me  witness  that  I had  no  inten- 
tions of  this  sort,  so  I am  certain  that  whosoever  makes  Christ  all  his 
salvation,  can  never  at  the  same  time  make  Him  a minister  of  sin  ; and 
I trust  the  hour  will  come  when,  under  a deep  sense  of  your  own  sinful- 
ness and  nothingness,  you  will  be  glad  to  lay  hold  of  some  of  those 
comfortable  Gospel  truths,  which  now  you  look  upon  as  dangerous 
poison. 

In  consequence  of  my  former  letter  to  you,  I wrote  to  my  bookseller 
in  London,  and  told  Mr.  Eddowes  in  Shrewsbury,  to  stop  the  sale  of  all 
my  publications  concerning  the  controversy  between  us ; and,  unless 
God  shows  me  that  it  is  a matter  of  duty  so  to  do,  I shall  not  revoke 
this  order;  it  being  my  earnest  desire  for  the  time  to  come,  if  it  be 
possible,  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men ; and,  though  I cannot  approve 
some  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  doctrines,  because  I believe  them  to  be  contrary 
to  Scripture,  and  am  sure  they  are  contrary  to  my  own  experience,  yet,  as 
I am  persuaded  that  many  who  are  the  excellent  of  the  earth  are  in  his 
connexion,  I wish  to  confirm  my  love  towards  them  on  account  of  the 
grace  that  is  in  them ; and,  whilst  I reject  their  errors,  still  to  esteem 
their  persons ; and  never  to  say  or  do  anything  that  may  hurt  that 
common  cause  for  which  we  all  ought  to  be  contending,  or  which  may 
grieve  the  weakest  or  meanest  of  Christ’s  people. 

“These,  dear  Sir,  are  my  present  sentiments  and  intentions,  and  you 
have  my  free  permission  to  declare  them  upon  the  house-top. 

“An  afflictive  breach,  which  God  has  lately  been  pleased  to  make  in 
our  family,  by  depriving  me  of  a most  tender  and  affectionate  mother, 
calls  upon  me  to  beg  your  prayers,  that  the  sudden  stroke  may  be 
sanctified  to  me  and  to  us  all.  It  loudly  bids  me  remember  that  I am 
but  a stranger  and  pilgrim  here  below.  May  the  Lord  give  me  a 
pilgrim’s  spirit!  and  may  He  give  us  both  a right  judgment  in  all 
things  I 

“ Permit  me  to  subscribe  myself.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  your  sincere 
friend  and  servant  in  Christ, 

“Richard  Hill.” 

The  Christian  spirit  of  this  letter  cannot  be  excelled. 


Age  44-]  Mr,  Richard  Hill  in  Further  Difficulty,  289 


What  a contrast  to  that  of  the  Finishing  Stroke,”  pub- 
lished at  the  beginning  of  the  year  ! Mr.  Hill  gave  Fletcher 
full  permission  to  make  known  the  facts  that  the  controversy 
had  done  him  no  good  ; that  he  desired  to  be  humbled 
before  God,  and  to  ask  forgiveness  of  Fletcher  and  Wesley 
for  everything  that  had  savoured  of  wrong,”  or  of 'his  own 
spirit,”  in  his  writings  ; that  he  had  stopped  the  sale  of  his 
publications  ; and  that  he  regarded  many  of  Wesley’s  people 
as  the  excellent  of  the  earth.” 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Fletcher  availed  himself  of 
Mr.  Hill’s  permission.  The  facts  did  honour  to  Mr.  Hill  ; 
but,  as  is  often  the  case,  in  the  course  of  circulation,  the 
facts  were  perverted.  By  no  fault  of  Fletcher,  it  was  re- 
ported that  Mr.  Hill  had  recanted  the  doctrines  he  had  so 
stoutly  maintained.  This  was  utterly  untrue  ; and  led  Mr. 
Hill  to  send  his  three  letters  to  the  press.^  No  one  could 
have  found  fault  with  this  ; but,  unfortunately,  Mr.  Hill  pre- 
fixed a preface  to  his  letters,  and  appended  an  appendix. 

In  his  preface,  he  remarks,  that  when  Wesley  heard  from 
Fletcher  that  he  (Mr.  Hill)  had  suppressed  the  sale  of  his 
publications,  he  wrote  Mr.  Hill  a short  and  civil  letter,”  in 
which  he  said,  he  himself  intended  to  write  nothing  more  on 
the  controversy  between  them,  and  expressed  the  hope  that 
all,  in  the  future,  would  be  love  and  peace.  This  communi- 
cation gratified  Mr.  Hill,  and  soon  afterwards,  when  he  went 
to  London,  he  had  an  interview  with  Wesley  at  West-street 
chapel,  and  assured  him  of  his  intentions  to  retire  from  the 
warfare,  and  said  he  wished  that  nothing  more  should  be 
said  on  the  subject  by  any  one.  Wesley  took  him  by  the 
hand  ; showed  a loving,  pacific  disposition  ; and,  says  Mr. 
Hill,  “we  parted  very  good  friends.” 

Besides  this  personal  narrative,  however,  the  preface  re- 
newed the  slanderous  attacks  on  Fletcher,  accusing  him  of 
misrepresenting  facts,  of  using  “ artifices  in  his  manner  of 
making  quotations;”  and  “declamation,  chicanery,  evasion, 
false  glosses,  and  pious  frauds,  to  throw  dust  into  the  eyes 


^ The  title  was,  ‘‘Three  Letters,  written  by  Richard  Hill,  Esq.,  to  the 
Rev.  J.  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  in  the  year  1773  ; setting  forth 
Mr.  Hill’s  Reasons  for  declining  any  further  controversy  relative  to  Mr. 
Wesley’s  Principles.  Shrewsbury.”  8vo.,  30  pp. 


19 


290 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


of  his  readers.”  Not  content  with  this,  he  made  an  on- 
slaught on  Thomas  Olivers,  Wesley's  trenchant  Itinerant, 
who  (in  1774)  had  just  published  a i2mo  book  of  168 
pages,  entitled  “A  Scourge  to  Calumny.  In  Two  Parts.  In- 
scribed to  Richard  Hill,  Esq.”  He  sneeringly  calls  him 
“one  Thomas  Oliver,  alias  Olivers,  a journeyman  cordwainer, 
who  had  written  a pamphlet  against  him  (Mr.  Hill),  which, 
though  in  itself  black  in  the  grain^  was  afterwards  lacquered 
up^  new  soled^  and  heel-tapped  by  his  master  before  it  was 
exposed  for  sale.” 

I shall  not,”  continues  Mr.  Hill,  ‘‘take  the  least  notice  of  him,  or 
read  a line  of  his  composition,^  anymore  than,  if  I was  travelling  on  the 
road,  I would  stop  to  lash,  or  even  order  my  footman  to  lash,  every 
impertinent  little  quadruped  in  a village,  that  should  come  out  and  bark 
at  me  ; but  would  willingly  let  the  contemptible  animal  have  the  satis- 
faction of  thinking  he  had  driven  me  out  of  sight.” 

This  was  despicable  bombast ; for  the  Welsh  shoemaker, 
as  a controversial  writer,  was  quite  equal  to  him  who,  in 
due  time,  became  a Shropshire  baronet.  Mr.  Hill  proceeds 
to  say  that  he  cannot  read  any  more  of  Fletcher  s books, 
and,  therefore,  cannot  write  any  more  answers  to  them  ; 
but,  because  it  was  now  currently  reported  that  he  had 
recanted  the  doctrines  which  he  had  defended,  he  had  re- 
voked his  orders  to  stop  the  sale  of  his  publications,  and 
that  his  “ Five  Letters  to  Fletcher,”  his  “ Review  of  Wesley’s 
Doctrines,”  his  “Farrago  Double  Distilled,”  his  “Paris  Con- 
versation,” and  his  “ Finishing  Stroke,”  might  now  be  bought 
as  heretofore. 

The  Appendix  to  Mr.  Hill’s  Three  Letters  suggests  a 
pj^posed  title  to  Fletcher’s  works,  and  sets  forth  “ A Creed 
for  Arminians  and  Perfectionists,”  as  follows  : — 

“Article  I. 

“ I believe  that  Jesus  Christ  died  for  the  whole  human  race,  and  that 
He  had  no  hibre  love  towards  those  who  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be, 
in  glory,  than  for  those  who  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be,  lifting  up 
their  eyes  in  torments  ; and  that  the  one  ajre  no  more  indebted  to  His 
grace  than  the  other.  ; 


^ If  Mr.  Hill  had  not  read  Thomas  Olivers’  little  book,  how  is  it  that 
he  can  so  graphically  describe  it  ? 


Age  44.]  Creed  for  Arminians  and  Perfectionists.  291 


“ Article  II. 

'‘I  believe  that  Divine  grace  is  indiscriminately  given  to  all  men; 
and  that  God,  foreseeing  that  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  world  would 
reject  this  grace,  doth,  nevertheless,  bestow  it  upon  them  in  order  to 
heighten  their  torments  and  to  increase  their  damnation  in  hell. 

“ Article  III. 

“I  believe  it  depends  wholly  on  the  will  of  the  creature  whether  he 
shall  or  shall  not  receive  any  benefit  from  Divine  grace. 

''Article  IV. 

"Though  the  Scripture  tells  me  that  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
against  God,  yet  I believe  there  is  something  in  the  heart  of  every 
natural  man  that  can  nourish  and  cherish  the  grace  of  God  ; and  that 
the  sole  reason  why  this  grace  is  effectual  in  some  and  not  in  others,  is 
entirely  owing  to  themselves  and  to  their  own  faithfulness,  and  not  to 
the  distinguishing  love  and  favour  of  God. 

"Article  V. 

" I believe  that  God  sincerely  wishes  for  the  salvation  of  many  who 
never  will  be  saved  ; consequently,  that  it  is  entirely  owing  to  want  of 
ability  in  God  that  what  He  so  earnestly  willeth  is  not  accomplished. 

"Article  VI. 

" I believe  that  the  Redeemer  not  only  shed  His  precious  blood,  but 
prayed  for  the  salvation  of  many  souls  who  are  now  in  hell ; conse- 
quently, that  His  blood  was  shed  in  vain,  and  His  prayer  rejected  of 
His  Father;  and  that,  therefore.  He  told  a great  untruth  when  He 
said,  ' I know  that  Thou  hearest  me  always.^ 

"Article  VII. 

" I believe  that  God,  foreseeing  some  men’s  nature  will  improve  the 
grace  which  is  given  them,  and  that  they  will  repent,  believe,  and  be 
very  good,  elects  them  unto  salvation. 

"Article  VIII. 

" I believe  that  the  love  and  favour  of  Him  with  whom  is  no  variable- 
ness and  shadow  of  turning,  and  whose  gifts  and  callings  are  without 
repentance,  may  vary,  change,  and  turn  every  hour  and  every  moment, 
according  to  the  behaviour  of  the  creature. 

"Article  IX. 

" I believe  that  the  seed  of  the  Word,  by  which  God’s  children  are 
born  again,  is  a corruptible  seed ; and  that,  so  far  from  enduring  for 
ever  (as  that  mistaken  apostle  Peter  rashly  affirms),  it  is  frequently 
rooted  out  of  the  hearts  of  those  in  whom  it  was  sown. 

" Article  X. 

" I believe  that  Christ  does  not  always  give  unto  His  sheep  eternal 
life  ; but  that  they  often  perish,  and  are,  by  the  power  of  Satan,  fre- 
quently plucked  out  of  His  hand. 


292 


TVes ley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1773- 


''Article  XI. 

"Though  I have  solemnly  subscribed  to  the  Thirty-Nine  Articles  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and  have  affirmed  that  I believe  them  from  my 
heart,  yet  I think  our  Reformers  were  profoundly  ignorant  of  true 
Christianity,  when  they  declared,  in  the  Ninth  Article,  that  'the  in- 
fection of  nature  doth  remain  in  them  which  are  regenerate  ; ’ and,  in 
the  Fifteenth,  that  ' all  we,  the  rest  (Christ  only  excepted),  although 
baptized  and  born  again  in  Christ,  yet  offend  in  many  things ; and  if 
we  say  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in 
usi*  This  I totally  deny,  because  it  cuts  up,  root  and  branch,  my 
favourite  doctrine  of  Perfection  ; and,  therefore,  let  Peter,  Paul,  James, 
or  John,  say  what  they  will ; and  let  reformers  and  martyrs  join  their 
syren  song,  their  eyes  were  at  best  but  half  opened,  for  want  of  a little 
Foundery  eye-salve ; therefore,  I cannot  look  upon  them  as  adult 
believers,  and  fathers  in  Christ.” 

The  Eleven  Articles  were  subscribed,  ‘‘  J.  F.,'’  “ J.  W.,’’ 
and  ‘‘W.  S. which  may  be  taken  as  the  initial  letters  of  the 
names  of  John  Fletcher,  John  Wesley,  and  Walter  Sellon. 

" What ! more  finishing  strokes  ” remarked  the  Monthly  Review 
of  January,  1775,  in  its  notice  of  Mr.  Hill’s  new  pamphlet.  "This 
retiring  champion,  however,  like  the  Parthians  of  old,  is  not  less  for- 
midable in  his  retreat  than  in  a direct  attack.  He  here  lets  fly  at  the 
Arminians  and  Perfectionists  one  of  his  sharpest  pointed  arrows. 
He  styles  it  ^ their  creed, He  says  he  has  'composed  it  from  their 
sentiments  ; ’ and  he  adds  that  he  ' can  scarcely  read  it  without  horror.’ 
Yet  he  thinks  himself  justifled  in  publishing  it,  as  Mr.  Fletcher  still 
continued  the  controversy  with  so  much  warmth.” 

All  this  is  deeply  to  be  regretted.  Mr.  Hill  had  declared 
his  determination  to  abandon  this  painful  warfare,  and  yet 
here  he  provokes  a continuance  of  it.  It  is  true  that,  mean- 
while, Fletcher  had  published  his  ‘‘  Answer  to  the  Finishing 
Stroke  of  Mr.  Hill ; but  Fletcher  had  done  this,  not  because 
he  desired  the  controversy  'to  be  prolonged,  but  because 
‘‘  The  Finishing  Stroke  ” contained  so  many  grave  attacks 
on  Fletcher's  moral  character,  that  Fletcher’s  honour  could 
not  be  maintained  without  an  “ Answer  ” being  written.  At 
this  point  the  war  might  have  ended  ; but,  by  appending 
the  “ Creed  for  Arminians  and  Perfectionists  ” to  his  Three 
Letters,  Mr.  Hill  re-opened  the  sluice,  and  the  waters  of 
strife  ” flowed  as  fiercely  as  ever. 

From  a Calvinian  point  of  view,  the  Creed  ” is  drawn  up 


Age  44.]  Creed for  Arminians  and  Perfectionists.  293 


with  great  ability  ; but  Mr.  Hill  was  well  aware  that  it  was 
a misrepresentation  of  the  sentiments  of  Fletcher  and  Wesley. 
Besides,  the  thing  itself  was  in  bad  taste.  It  must  be 

acknowledged  that  Fletcher  had  published  his  “ Gospel 
Proclamation  : Given  at  Geneva^  and  signed  by  four  of  his 
Majesty’s  principal  Secretaries  of  State  for  the  Predestinarian 
Department ! ” but  there  was  no  need  that  Mr.  Richard  Hill 
should  copy  Fletchers  objectionable  example. 

It  is  now  time,  however,  to  turn  to  Fletcher’s  masterly 
replies. 


294 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1774- 


CHAPTER  XV. 

FIFTH  CHECK  TO  ANTINOMIANISM.” 

1774- 

IN  a characteristic  letter  addressed  to  Ambrose  Serle,  Esq., 
and  dated  “January  ii,  1774,”  Augustus  Toplady  ob- 
served : — 

‘‘Mr.  Fletcher  may  fire  off  as  soon  as  he  pleases.  The  weapons  of. 
his  warfare  can  never  wound  the  truths  of  God,  any  more  than  a handful 
of  feathers  can  batter  down  my  church  tower.  I shall,  however,  be 
glad  to  see  his  performance  when  it  appears.  Mr.  Shirley  told  me, 
when  I was  last  at  Bath,  that  Fletcher  is  to  succeed  Pope  Wesley,  as 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Societies,  if  he  should  survive  his  holiness. 
No  wonder,  therefore,  that  the  Cardinal  of  Madeley  is  such  a zealous 
stickler  for  the  cause.  One  would  think  that  the  Swiss  were  universally 
fated  to  fight  for  pay.’’  * 

Toplady 's  mendacious  sneer  that  Fletcher  was  fighting 
‘‘for  pay’'  may  be  scornfully  passed  over.  This  letter  might 
refer  to  Fletcher’s  “ Answer  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady’s  Vindi- 
cation of  the  Decrees,”  which  Fletcher  finished  in  the  month 
of  October,  1775  ; or  it  might  refer  to  the  expected  publi- 
cation of  the  “ Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism.”  The  “ First 
Part”  of  this  was  completed  at  Madeley,  September  13, 
1773  ; but  was  not  published  until  the  beginning  of  1774. 
The  following  was  its  title  : “ Logica  Genevensis  continued  : 
or  the  First  Part  of  the  Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism,  con- 
t lining  an  Answer  to  ‘ The  Finishing  Stroke  ’ of  Richard  Hill, 
Esq.  In  which  some  remarks  upon  Mr,  Fulsoine's  Anti- 
nomian  Creed,  published  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Berridge,  are 
occasionally  introduced.  With  an  Appendix  upon  the 


“ Complete  Works  of  Toplady.” 


Age  45.] 


Remaining  Differences, 


295 


remaining  difference  between  the  Calvinists  and  the  Anti- 
Calvinists,  with  respect  to  our  Lord’s  doctrine  of  Justification 
by  words y and  St.  James’s  doctrine  of  Justification  by  workSy 
and  not  by  Jaith  only,  London  : 1774.”  i2mo.,  48  pp. 

Fletcher’s  '‘Answer”  to  Richard  Hill’s  “ Finishing  Stroke,” 
and  his  “ Remarks  upon  Mr.  Fulsoinds  Antinomian  Creed,” 
are  able,  and  characteristic  of  the  writer  ; but  contain  no 
biographical  facts  worth  mentioning.  Two  extracts,  how- 
ever, from  the  “ Appendix,”  upon  the  remaining  differences 
between  the  Calvinists  and  the  anti-Calvinists,  may  be  useful ; 
inasmuch  as,  in  a condensed  form,  they  exhibit  the  point  to 
which,  in  Fletcher’s  opinion,  the  controversy  had  brought 
both  parties  with  respect  to  the  principal  of  Wesley’s 
“Minutes  ” of  1770.  Fletcher  writes  : — 

On  both  sides,  we  agree  to  maintain,  in  opposition  to  Socinians  and 
Deists,  that  the  grand,  the  primary,  and  properly  meritorious  cause  of 
our  justification,  from  first  to  last,  both  in  the  day  of  conversion  and  in 
the  day  of  judgment,  is  only  the  precious  atonement  and  the  infinite 
merits  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  all  agree  likewise  that  in  the  day 
of  conversion  faith  is  the  instrumental  cause  of  our  justification  before 
God.  Nay,  if  I mistake  not,  we  come  one  step  nearer  each  other,  for 
we  equally  hold  that,  after  conversion,  the  works  of  faith  are  in  this 
world,  and  will  be  in  the  day  of  judgment,  the  evidencing  cause  of  our 
justification  ; that  is,  the  works  of  faith  (under  the  above-mentioned 
primary  cause  of  our  salvation,  and  in  subordination  to  the  faith  that 
gives  them  birth),  are  now,  and  will  be  in  the  great  day,  the  evidence 
that  shall  instrumentally  cause  our  justification  as  believers.  Thus  Mr. 
Hill  says  {^Review y p.  149],  ‘ Neither  Mr.  Shirley,  nor  I,  nor  any  Calvinist 
that  I overheard  of,  denies  that,  though  a sinner i7^  the  sight 
oj  God  by  Christ  alonOy  he  is  declaratively  justified  by  works,  both 
here  and  at  the  day  oJ  jtodgmeitti  And  the  Rev.  Mr.  Madan,  in  his 
sermon  on  Justificatio7Z  by  works  stated,  explained,  and  reconciled 
with  justification  by  Jaith,'  says  [p.  29],  ‘By  Christ  only  are  we  meri- 
toriously and  by  faith  only  are  we  instrtcmentally  in 

the  sight  oJ  God  ; but  by  works,  and  not  by  faith  only,  are  we  declara- 
tively justified  bejore  men  and  angels'  From  these  two  quotations, 
which  could  easily  be  multiplied  to  twenty,  it  is  evident  that  pious 
Calvinists  hold  the  doctrine  of  2.  justification  by  the  works  of  faith  ; or, 
as  Mr.  Madan  expresses  it,  after  St.  James,  by  works,  a7td  not  by  Jaith 
only. 

“It  remains  now  to  show  wherein  we  disagree.  At  first  sight,  the 
difference  seems  trifling  ; but,  upon  close  examination,  it  appears  that 
the  whole  antinomian  gulf  still  remains  fixed  between  us.  Read  the 
preceding  quotations,  weigh  the  clauses  which  I have  put  in  capitals, 
compare  them  with  what  the  Rev.  Mr.  Berridge  says  in  his  ‘ Christian 


2g6 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1774. 


World  Umnasked'  (p.  26),  of  ^ a7z  absolute  impossibility  of  being 
justified  in  any  manner  by  our  works,’  namely,  before  God ; and  you 
will  see  that  though  pious  Calvinists  allow  we  are  justified  by  works 
before  meit  and  angels ^ yet  they  deny  our  being  justified  by  works 
before  God,  in  whose  sight  they  suppose  we  are  for  ever  justified  by 
Christ  alone,'  i.e.,  only  by  Christ’s  good  works  and  sufferings,  abso- 
lutely imputed  to  us  from  the  very  first  moment  in  which  we  make  a 
single  act  of  true  faith,  if  not  from  all  eternity.  Thus  works  are  entirely 
excluded  from  having  any  hand  either  in  our  intermediate  or  final  justi- 
fication before  God ; and  thus  they  are  still  represented  as  totally 
needless  to  our  eternal  salvation.  Now,  in  direct  opposition  to  the 
above-mentioned  distinction,  we  anti-Calvinists  believe  that  adult  persons 
cannot  be  saved  without  being  justified  by  faith  as  sinners,  according 
to  the  light  of  their  dispensation  ; and  by  works  as  believers,  according 
to  the  time  and  opportunities  they  have  of  working.  We  assert  that  the 
works  of  faith  are  not  less  necessary  to  our  justification  before  God  as 
believers,  faith  itself  is  necessary  to  our  justification  before  Him- 
as  sinners.  And  we  maintain  that  when  faith  does  not  produce  good 
works  (much  more  when  it  produces  the  worst  works,  such  as  adultery, 
hypocrisy,  treachery,  murder,  etc.),  it  dies,  and  justifies  no  more  ; seeing 
it  is  a living  and  not  a dead  faith  that  justifies  us  as  sinners  ; even  as 
they  are  liv mg  Sind  not  dead  works  that  justify  us  as  believers.” 

Thus  did  these  good  men  quarrel.  Berridge  was  a man 
of  eminent  piety  and  of  great  wit,  but  he  could  scarcely 
be  considered  a great  theologian  ; and  it  may  be  fairly  doubted 
whether  he  ever  held  the  doctrines  which  Fletcher,  per- 
haps somewhat  hardly,  deduces  from  a few  of  his  unguarded 
words. 

In  his  next  pamphlet,  which  was  published  March  i,  1774,^ 
Fletcher  treats  poor  Berridge  with  yet  greater  severity.  The 
whole  work  was  devoted  to  an  exposure  of  the  objectionable 
and  the  weak  points  in  Berridge's  “ Christian  World  Un- 
masked.” Its  title  was  “ Logica  Genevensis  continued.  Or 
the  Second  Part  of  the  Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism  ; con- 
taining a Defence  of  ^ Jack  o'  lanthorn,’  and  ‘ the  Paper-kite,' 
i£.,  Sincere  Obedience; — of  the  'Cobweb,'  The  evangelical 
law  of  liberty  ; and  of  the  ' Valiant  Sergeant  I.  F.,'  i,e,,  The 
conditionality  of  Perseverance,  attacked  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Berridge,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  Everton,  and  late  Fellow  of  Clare- 
hall,  Cambridge,  in  his  book  called  ' The  Christian  World 
Unmasked.'  London  : 1774.''  12  mo.,  44  pp. 


Lloyd' s Evenmg  Post,  March  2,  1774. 


Age  45.] 


Fletcher  Answering  Ber ridge. 


297 


Berridge  was  well  aware  of  Fletcher’s  intention  to  attack 
his  book,  for  Fletcher  himself,  seven  months  before,  had  told 
him  that  what  he  had  ''  said  about  sincere  obedience  was  the 
very  core  of  Antinomianism,”  and  that  he  must  freely  expose 
what  he  had  written.  Berridge,  in  letters  to  John  Thornton, 
Esq.,  and  the  Rev.  John  Newton,  complained  of  this,  and  said 
Fletcher  had  misapprehended  his  meaning.  He  also  wrote 
to  Fletcher  to  the  same  effect,  and  told  him  that,  if  he 
published  his  attack,  he  (Berridge)  would  not  answer  it. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Berridge  never  intended  to  “ dis- 
parage sincere  obedience”  to  the  law  of  God;  but  his  similes, 
allegories,  figures,  and  loose  language,  might  be  construed 
by  Antinomian  readers  in  such  a sense.  Fletcher  believed 
Berridge  to  be  a sincere,  earnest,  obedient  Christian  ; but  he 
also  believed  that  Berridge’s  well-meant  book  might  be  turned 
to  a bad  account  by  men  with  whose  Antinomian  sentiments 
Berridge  had  no  sympathy.  In  the  introduction  to  his 
pamphlet,  Fletcher  writes  : — 

Before  I mention  Mr.  Berridge’s  mistakes,  I must  do  justice  to  his 
person.  It  is  by  no  means  my  design  to  represent  him  as  a divine,  who 
either  leads  a loose  life,  or  intends  to  hurt  the  Redeemer’s  interest. 
His  conduct  as  a Christian  is  exemplary  ; his  labours  as  a minister  are 
great ; and  I am  persuaded  that  the  wrong  touches  which  he  gives  to 
the  ark  of  godliness  are  not  only  undesigned,  but  intended  to  do  God 
service. 

‘‘There  are  so  many  things  commendable  in  the  pious  vicar  of 
Everton,  and  so  much  truth  in  his  ‘ Christian  World  Unmasked,’  that  I 
find  it  a hardship  to  expose  the  unguarded  parts  of  that  performance. 
But  the  cause  of  this  hardship  is  the  ground  of  my  apology.  Mr. 
Berridge  is  a good,  an  excellent  man ; therefore  the  Antinomian  errors 
which  go  abroad  into  the  world  with  his  letters  of  recommendation,  speak 
in  his  evangelical  strain,  and  are  armed  with  the  poignancy  of  his  wit, 
cannot  be  too  soon  pointed  out  and  too  carefully  guarded  against.  I 
flatter  myself  that  this  consideration  will  procure  me  his  pardon  for 
taking  the  liberty  of  dispatching  his  ‘ valiant  sergeant  ’ with  some  doses 
of  rational  and  Scriptural  antidote  for  those  who  have  drunk  into  the 
pleasing  mistakes  of  his  book,  and  want  his  piety  to  hinder  them  from 
carrying  speculative  into  practical  Antinomianism.” 

It  would  weary  the  reader  to  follow  Fletcher  in  his  minute, 
sometimes  pungent,  and  always  irrefutable  criticisms  on 
Berridge’s  well-known  book.  There  is  often  plain  speaking, 
but  there  is  no  acidity.  Berridge  is  routed,  but  he  is 


298 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1774- 


invariably  treated  as  a Christian  and  a gentleman.  Fletcher’s 
Conclusion  ” is  as  follows  : — 

^‘Were  I to  conclude  these  strictures  upon  the  dangerous  tenets, 
inadvertently  advanced  and  happily  contradicted,  in  ‘ The  Christian 
World  Unmasked,^  without  professing  my  brotherly  love  and  sincere 
respect  for  the  ingenious  and  pious  author,  I should  wrong  him,  myself, 
and  the  cause  which  I defend.  I only  do  him  justice  when  I say  that 
few,  very  few,  of  our  elders  equal  him  in  devotedness  to  Christ,  zeal, 
diligence,  and  ministerial  success.  His  indefatigable  labours  in  the 
word  and  doctrine  entitle  him  to  a double  share  of  honour  ; and  I 
invite  all  my  readers  to  esteem  him  highly  in  love  for  his  Master’s  and 
his  work’s  sake;  entreating  them  not  to  undervalue  his  vital  piety  on 
account  of  his  Antinomian  opinions  ; and  beseeching  them  to  consider 
that  his  errors  are  so  much  the  more  excusable  as  they  do  not  influence 
his  moral  conduct,  and  that  he  refutes  them  himself  far  more  than  his 
favourite  scheme  of  doctrine  allows  him  to  do.  Add  to  this  that  those 
very  errors  spring,  in  a great  degree,  from  the  idea  that  he  honours 
Christ  by  receiving,  and  does  God  service  by  propagating  them. 

'^The  desire  of  catching  the  attention  of  his  readers  has  made  him 
choose  a witty,  facetious  manner  of  writing,  for  which  he  has  a peculiar 
turn  ; and  the  necessity  I am  under  of  standing  his  indirect  attack  * 
obliges  me  to  meet  him  upon  his  own  ground,  and  to  encounter  him  with 
his  own  weapons.  I beg  that  what  passes  for  evangelical  humour  in 
him  may  not  be  called  indecent  levity  in  me.  A sharp  pen  may  be 
guided  by  a kind  heart ; and  such,  I am  persuaded,  is  that  of  my  much- 
esteemed  antagonist,  whom  I publicly  invite  to  my  pulpit ; protesting 
that  I should  be  edified  and  overjoyed  to  hear  him  enforce  there  the 
guarded  substance  of  his  book,  which,  notwithstanding  the  vein  of 
solifidianism  I have  taken  the  liberty  to  open,  contains  many  great  and 
glorious  truths.” 

In  all  his  publications,  Fletcher  had  not  only  Wesley’s 
approval,  but  his  high  commendation.  In  three  several 
letters,  written  during  the  present  year,  1774,  Wesley  thus 
expressed  his  opinion  of  Fletcher  : — 

March  i,  1774. — He”  [James  Perfect],  ‘^preaches  salvation  by 
faith  in  the  same  manner  that  my  brother  and  I have  done  ; and  as  Mr. 
Fletcher  (one  of  the  finest  writers  of  the  age)  has  beautifully  explained 
it.  None  of  us  talk  of  being  accepted  for  our  works  ; that  is  the  Cal- 
vinist slander.  But  we  all  maintain  we  are  not  saved  without  works ; 


^ As  previously  stated,  Fletcher’s  name  was  not  mentioned  in 
Berridge’s  book,  but  the  book  was  intended  to  ridicule  and  denounce 
the  doctrines  which  Fletcher,  in  his  “ Checks y had  defended. 


Age  45.] 


Wesley  on  Fletcher. 


299 


that  works  are  a condition  (though  not  the  meritorious  cause)  of  final 
salvation.  It  is  by  faith  in  the  righteousness  and  blood  of  Christ  that 
we  are  enabled  to  do  all  good  works  ; and  it  is  for  the  sake  of  these 
that  all  who  fear  God  and  work  righteousness  are  accepted  of  Him.”  ^ 
”May  2,  1774.  Until  Mr.”  (Richard)  ‘‘Hill  and  his  associates  puzzled 
the  cause,  it  was  as  plain  as  plain  could  be.  The  Methodists  always 
held,  and  have  declared  a thousand  times,  that  the  death  of  Christ  is 
the  meritorious  cause  of  our  salvation,  that  is,  of  pardon,  holiness,  and 
glory;  loving,  obedient  faith  is  the  condition  of  glory.  This  Mr. 
Fletcher  has  so  illustrated  and  confirmed,  as,  I think,  scarcely  any  one 
has  done  before  since  the  Apostles.” ^ 

“December  28,  1774.  If  we  could  once  bring  all  our  preachers, 
itinerant  and  local,  uniformly  and  steadily  to  insist  on  those  two  points, 
‘ Christ  dying  for  us,’  and  ‘ Christ  reigning  in  us,’  we  should  shake  the 
trembling  gates  of  hell.  I think  most  of  them  are  now  exceeding  clear 
herein,  and  the  rest  come  nearer  and  nearer;  especially  since  they  have 
read  Mr.  Fletcher’s  ‘ Checks,’  which  have  removed  many  difficulties  out 
of  the  way.”  ^ 

Such  was  one  of  the  services  which  Fletcher,  one  of  the 
finest  writers  of  the  age/'  had  rendered  to  Wesley’s  preachers 
and  people  as  early  as  the  year  1774.  They  had  been  in 
danger  of  departing  from  the  truth,  or,  at  least,  stumbling 
at  it:  by  Fletcher’s  help,  they  were  confirmed  in  the  Christian 
faith,  and  henceforth  earnestly  contended  for  it. 

As  already  seen,  in  1773  Mr.  Richard  Hill  had  extended 
to  Fletcher  the  olive  branch  of  peace  ; and  now  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon  seems  to  have  done  the  same.  Three  years 
before,  she  had  virtually  dismissed  him  from  her  Calvinistic 
College  at  Trevecca,  because  he  would  not  renounce  what 
were  called  the  ''horrible  ajid  abominable''  doctrinal  ^‘Minutes” 
of  Wesley’s  Conference  in  1770.  Since  then,  he  had  been 
incessantly  employed  in  explaining  and  defending  these 
“Minutes;”  and,  in  every  instance,  had  vanquished  his 
opponents.  Her  ladyship,  with  her  strong-mindedness,  seemed 
to  perceive  this,  and  wished  to  have  an  interview  with  her 
disbanded  president.  She  was  staying  at  Bath,  and  through 
James  Ireland,  Esq.,  of  Bristol,  the  intimate  friend  of  both, 
her  wish  appears  to  have  been  conveyed  to  Fletcher  ; who, 
in  reply,  wrote  to  Mr.  Ireland  as  follows  : — 


Wesley’s  Works,  vol  xii.,  p.  372. 
Ibid,  p.  373. 

Ibid,  p.  430. 


300 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor, 


[1774- 


“ Madeley,  February  6,  1774. 

My  Dear  Friend, — In  the  present  circumstances,  it  was  a great 
piece  of  condescension  in  dear  Lady  Huntingdon  to  be  willing  to  see 
me  privately  : but  for  her  to  permit  me  to  wait  upon  her  openly  denotes 
such  generosity,  such  courage,  and,  a mind  so  much  superior  to  the 
narrowness  that  clogs  the  charity  of  most  professors,  that  it  would  have 
amazed  me,  if  everything  that  is  noble  and  magnanimous  were  not  to  be 
expected  from  her  ladyship.  It  is  well  for  her  that  spirits  are  imprisoned 
in  flesh  and  blood,  or  I might  by  this  time  (and  it  is  but  an  hour  since  I 
received  your  letter)  have  troubled  her  ten  times  with  my  apparition,  to 
wish  her  joy  of  being  above  the  dangerous  snare  of  professors — the 
smiles  and  frowns  of  the  religious  world  ; and  to  thank  her  a thousand 
times  for  not  being  ashamed  of  her  old  servant,  and  for  cordially  forgiving 
him  all  that  is  past,  upon  the  score  of  the  Lord’s  love,  and  of  rny  honest 
meaning. 

But  though,  on  reading  your  letter,  my  mind  has  travelled  so  fast 
to  Bath,  yet  an  embargo  is  laid  upon  my  body — ‘ I must  not  go  yet.’  I 
am  the  more  inclined  to  take  the  hint,  for  two  reasons.  I will  tell  you 
all  my  heart  about  it.  The  more  I see  her  ladyship’s  generosity,  and 
admire  the  faithfulness  of  theTriendship  that  she  has  for  many  years 
honoured  me  with,  the  more  I ought  to  take  care  not  to  bring  burdens 
upon  her.  It  might  lessen  her  influence  with  those  she  is  connected 
with ; and  might  grieve  some  of  her  friends,  who  possibly  would  look 
upon  her  condescension  as  an  affront  to  them.  This  is  the  first  reason. 

The  second  respects  myself.  ' I must  follow  my  light.  A necessity 
is  laid  upon  me  to  clear  my  conscience  with  respect  to  the  Antmomian 
world,  and  to  point  out  the  stumbling-block  that  keeps  many  serious 
people  from  embracing  the  real  doctrines  of  free  grace.  I cannot  do 
this  without  advancing  some  truths,  which  I know  her  ladyship  receives 
as  well  as  myself,  but  which,  by  my  manner  of  unfolding  them,  will,  at 
first  sight,  appear  dreadful  touches  to  the  Gospel  of  the  day.  I am  just 
sending  to  the  press  ‘A  Scriptural  Essay  upon  the  Astonishing  Reward- 
ableness  of  the  Works  of  Faith.’  Though  it  consists  only  of  plain 
Scriptures,  and  plain  arguments,  without  anything  personal,  I think  it 
will  raise  more  dust  of  prejudice  against  me  than  my  preceding  pub- 
lications. , With  respect  to  myself,  I do  not  mind  it ; but  I am  bound 
in  love  to  mind  it  with  respect  to  her  ladyship.  My  respect  for  her 
ladyship,  therefore,  together  with  the  preceding  reason,  determine  me 
to  defer  paying  my  respects  personally  to  her,  till  after  the  publication 
of  my  ‘Essay,’  and  ‘Scripture  Scales  ; ’ and,  if  she  does  not  then  revoke 
the  kind  leave  she  gives  me,  I shall  most  gladly  make  the  best  of  my 
way  to  assure  her  in  person,  as  I do  now  by  this  indirect  means,  that  I 
am,  and  shall  for  ever  be  her  dutiful  servant  in  what  appears  to  me  the 
plain  Gospel  of  our  common  Lord. 

“ With  love  to  yourself,  and  dutiful  love  to  our  noble  friend,  I am, 
etc.,  “J.  Fletcher.”  ‘ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  221. 


Age  45.] 


Fletcher  Writings  and  Weary. 


301 


Nothing  need  be  said  respecting  Fletcher's  considerate 
kindness  in  declining,  for  the  present,  an  interview  with  the 
Countess  of  Huntingdon,  lest  he  should  become  the  means 
of  bringing  upon  her  undeserved  reproach  from  some  of  her 
bigoted  and  narrow-hearted  friends.  It  was  like  the  man, 
and  worthy  of  him. 

In  another  letter  to  Mr.  Ireland,  Fletcher  further  refers 
to  the  returning  friendliness  of  the  Countess,  and  to  his 
controversial  and  exhausting  labours,  of  which  he  was  be- 
coming weary  : — 

^‘Madeley,  March  27,  1774. 

My  Dear  Sir, — I think  I wrote  my  last  two  days  before  I received 
your  bounty — a large  hogshead  of  rice  and  two  cheeses.  Accept  the 
thanks  of  myself  and  of  my  poor  flock.  I distributed  it  on  Shrove- 
Tuesday,  and  preached  to  a numerous  congregation  on  ^ Seek  ye  first 
the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness,  and  all  other  things  shall 
be  added  unto  you.’  We  prayed  for  our  benefactor,  that  God  would 
give  him  a hundredfold  in  this  life,  and  eternal  life,  where  life  eternal 
will  be  no  burden.  I saw  then,  what  I have  not  often  seen  on  such 
occasions,  gladness  without  the  appearance  of  envying  or  grudging. 

I get  very  slowly  out  of  the  mire  of  my  controversy,  and  yet  I hope 
to  get  over  it,  if  God  spares  my  life,  in  two  or  three  pieces  more.  Since 
I wrote  last,  I have  added  to  my  ‘Equal  Check’  a piece  which  I call 
‘ An  Essay  on  Truth ; or,  a Rational  Vindication  of  the  Doctrine  of 
Salvation  by  Faith,’  which  I have  taken  the  liberty  to  dedicate  to  Lady 
Huntingdon,  to  have  an  opportunity  of  clearing  her  ladyship  from  the 
charge  of  Antinomianism.  I have  taken  this  step  in  the  simplicity  of 
my  heart,  and  as  due  from  me,  in  my  circumstances,  to  the  character  of 
her  ladyship. 

“I  have  just  spirit  enough  to  enjoy  my  solitude,  and  to  bless  God 
that  I am  out  of  the  hurry  of  the  world — even  the  spiritual  world.  I 
tarry  gladly  in  my  Jerusalem,  till  the  kingdom  of  God  comes  with  power. 
Till  then,  it  matters  not  where  I am  : only  as  my  chief  call  is  here,  here 
I gladly  stay,  till  God  fits  me  for  the  pulpit  or  the  grave,  I still  spend 
my  mornings  in  scribbling.  Though  I grudge  so  much  time  in  writing, 
yet  a man  must  do  something ; and  I may  as  well  investigate  truth  as 
do  anything  else,  except  solemn  praying  and  visiting  my  flock.  I shall 
be  glad  to  have  done  with  *my  present  avocation,  that  I may  give  myself 
up  more  to  those  two  things. 

“ O how  life  goes  ! I walked,  now  I gallop  into  eternity.  The  bowl 
of  life  goes  rapidly  down  the  steep  hill  of  time.  Let  us  be  wise  ; embrace 
we  Jesus  and  the  resurrection.  Let  us  trim  our  lamps,  and  give  ourselves 
afresh  to  Him  that  bought  us,  till  we  can  do  it  without  reserve.  Adieu  ! 

“J.  Fletcher.”* 


Letters,  1791,  p 223. 


302 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1774- 


chapter  XVI. 

FURTHER  PUBLICATIONS  IN  THE  YEAR 

1774. 

IN  Lloyd*s  Evening  Post  for  March  2,  1774,  there  appeared 
the  following  advertisement : — 

In  the  Press.  An  Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism  ; 
and  the  Scripture  Scales  to  weigh  Gospel  Truth ; both  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
John  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Shropshire. 

‘‘  The  Scripture  Scales^  however,  were  published  separately, 
and  not  until  the  year  was  ending.  First  of  all,  Fletcher 
issued  a i2mo.  volume  of  264  pages,  entitled,  ‘‘The  First 
Part  of  an  Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism, 
containing,  I.  An  Historical  Essay  on  the  Danger  of  parting 
Faith  and  Works.  II.  Salvation  by  the  Covenant  of  Grace, 
A Discourse  preached  in  the  Parish  Church  of  Madeley, 
April  18,  and  May  9,  1773.  III.  A Scriptural  Essay  on 
the  astonishing  Rewardableness  of  Works,  according  to  the 
Covenant  of  Grace.  IV.  An  Essay  on  Truth,  or,  A rational 
Vindication  of  the  Doctrine  of  Salvation  by  Faith,  with  a 
dedicatory  Epistle  to  the  Right  Hon.  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon.  By  the  Author  of  the  Checks  to  Antino- 
mianism. Shrewsbury  : Printed  by  J.  Eddowes  : and  sold 
at  the  Foundery  ; and  by  J.  Buckland,  in  Paternoster  Row, 
London  ; by  T.  Mills  in  Bath  ; and  S.  Aris  in  Birmingham. 

1774." 

PletchePs  Preface  is  dated,  Madeley,  May  21,  1774. 
The  following  extracts  from  it  convey  an  idea  of  the  scope 
of  his  book  : — 

“I.  The  first  piece  of  this  Check  was  designed  for  a preface  to  the 
Discourse  that  follows  it ; but  as  it  swelled  far  beyond  my  intention,  I 


Age 45-]  First  Part  of  the  '•’■Equal  CheckP 


303 


present  it  to  the  reader  under  the  name  of  An  Historical  Essay,  which 
makes  way  for  the  tracts  that  follow. 

‘‘II.  With  respect  to  the  Discourse,  I must  mention  what  engages 
me  to  publish  it.  In  1771,  I saw  the  propositions  called  the  ‘ Minutes.'' 
Their  author  invited  me  to  ^review  the  whole  affair'  I did  so  ; and 
soon  found  that  I had  ‘ leaned  too  much  toward  Calvinism,’  which,  after 
mature  consideration,  appeared  to  me  exactly  to  coincide  with  s;pecu- 
lative  Antinomianism  ; and  the  same  year  I publicly  acknowledged  my 
error.^ 

“ When  I had  thus  openly  confessed  that  I was  involved  in  the  guilt 
of  many  of  my  brethren,  and  that  I had  so  leaned  speculative 

as  not  to  have  made  a proper  stand  digsimst  practical  Antinomianism, 
who  could  have  thought  that  one  of  my  most  formidable  opponents^ 
would  have  attempted  to  screen  his  mistakes  behind  some  passages  of 
a manuscript  sermon  which  I preached  twelve  years  ago,  and  of  which, 
by  some  means  or  other,  he  has  got  a copy  ? 

“ I am  very  far  from  recanting  that  old  discourse.  I still  think  the 
doctrine  it  contains  excellent,  in  the  main,  and  very  proper  to  be  en- 
forced, though  in  a more  guarded  manner,  in  a congregation  of  hearers 
violently  prejudiced  against  the  first  gospel  axiom. ^ Therefore,  out  of 
regard  for  the  grand,  leading  truth  of  Christianity,  and  in  compliance 
with  Mr.  Hill’s  earnest  entreaty  (‘Finishing  Stroke,’  p.  45),  I send 
my  sermon  into  the  world  upon  the  following  reasonable  conditions  : 

1 . That  I shall  be  allowed  to  publish  it,  as  I preached  it  a year  ago  in 
my  church,  namely,  with  additions  in  brackets,  to  make  it  at  once  a 
fuller  Check  to  Pharisaism,  and  a fnishing  Check  to  Antinomianism. 

2.  That  the  largest  addition  shall  be  in  favour  of  free  grace.  3.  That 
nobody  shall  accuse  me  of  forgery,  for  thus  adding  my  present  light 
to  that  which  I had  formerly ; and  for  thus  bringing  out  of  my  little 
treasure  of  experience  things  new  and  old.  4.  That  the  press  shall 
not  groan  with  the  charge  of  disingenuity , if  I throw  into  Notes  some 
unguarded  expressions,  which  I formerly  used  without  scruple,  and 
which  my  more  enlightened  conscience  does  not  suffer  me  to  use  at 


* In  the  “ Second  Check  to  Antinomianism.” 

^ Mr.  Richard  Hill. 

* Thus  defined  by  Fletcher  in  his  “ Doctrines  of  Grace  and  Justice  : ” 
“Our  salvation  is  of  God;  or.  There  is  free  grace  in  God;  which, 
through  Christ,  freely  places  all  men  in  a state  of  temporary  redemption, 
justification,  or  salvation,  according  to  the  various  Gospel  dispensations, 
and  crowns  those  who  are  faithful  unto  death  with  an  eternal  re- 
demption, justification,  or  salvation.” 

His  definition  of  the  second  Gospel  axiom  is,  “Our  damnation  is  of 
ourselves  .* *  or.  There  is  a free-will  in  man ; by  which  he  may,  through 
the  grace  freely  imparted  to  him  in  the  day  of  temporary  salvation, 
work  out  his  own  eternal  salvation ; or  he  may,  through  the  natural 
power  which  angels  had  to  sin  in  heaven,  and  our  first  parents  in 
paradise,  choose  to  sin  away  the  day  of  temporary  salvation.  And  by 
thus  working  out  his  damnation,  he  may  provoke  just  wrath,  which  is 
the  same  as  despised  free  grace,  to  punish  him  with  eternal  destruction.” 


304 


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[1774- 


present.  5.  That  my  opponent’s  call  to  print  my  sermon  will  procure 
me  the  pardon  of  the  public,  for  presenting  them  with  a plain,  blunts 
discourse,  composed  for  an  audience  chiefly  made  up  of  colliers  and 
rustics.  And,  lastly,  that,  as  I understand  English  a little  better  than 
I did  twelve  years  ago,  I shall  be  permitted  to  rectify  a few  French 
idioms,  which  I find  in  my  old  manuscript ; and  to  connect  my  thoughts 
a little  more  like  an  Englishman,  where  I can  do  it  without  the  least 
misrepresentation  of  the  sense. 

III.  With  regard  to  the  ‘ Scri;ptural  Essay  ’ upon  the  rewardable- 
ness  or  evangelical  worthiness  of  works,  I shall  just  observe  that  it 
attacks  the  grand  mistake  of  Solifidians  countenanced  by  three  or  four 
words  of  my  old  sermon.  I pour  a flood  of  Scriptures  upon  it ; and, 
after  receiving  the  fire  of  my  objector,  I return  it  in  a variety  of  scriptural 
and  rational  answers,  about  the  solidity  of  which  the  public  must 
decide. 

‘‘IV.  The  ^ Essay  on  Truth'  will,  I hope,  reconcile  judicious 
moralists  to  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  faiths  and  considerate  Soli- 
fidians to  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  the  works  of  faith ; reason  and 
Scripture  concurring  to  show  the  constant  dependence  of  works  upon 
faith  ; and  the  wonderful  agreement  of  the  doctrine  of  present  salvation 
by  TRUE  faith,  with  the  doctrine  of  eternal  salvation  by  GOOD  works, 

“ I hope  that  I do  not  dissent,  in  my  observations  upon  faith,  either 
from  our  Church,  or  approved  Gospel  ministers.  In  their  highest 
definitions  of  that  grace,  they  consider  it  only  according  to  the  fulness 
of  the  Christian  dispensation ; but  my  subject  has  obliged  me  to 
consider  it  also  according  to  the  dispensations  of  John  the  Baptist, 
Moses,  and  Noah.  Believers  under  these  inferior  dispensations  have 
not  always  assurance,  nor  is  the  assurance  they  sometimes  have  so 
oright  as  that  of  adult  Christians,  Matt.  xi.  ii.  But,  undoubtedly, 
assurance  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  faith  of  the  Christian 
dispensation,  which  was  not  fully  opened  till  Christ  opened  His  glorious 
baptism  on  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  and  till  His  spiritual  kingdom  was 
set  up  with  power  in  the  hearts  of  His  people.  Nobody,  therefore,  can 
truly  believe,  according  to  this  dispensation,  without  being  immediately 
conscious  both  of  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  of  peace  andjoy  inthe 
Holy  Ghost.  This  is  a most  important  truth,  derided  indeed  by  fallen 
Churchmen,  and  denied  by  Laodicean  Dissenters ; but,  of  late  years 
gloriously  revived  by  Mr.  Wesley  and  the  Ministers  connected  with 
him.” 

From  these  extracts,  the  reader  may  gather  the  difficult 
and  important  doctrines  discussed  by  Fletcher  in  his  book  of 
pamphlets.  In  a work  like  this  it  is  impossible  to  follow 
him  in  his  careful  statements  of  truth,  in  the  arguments  by 
which  he  proves  them,  and  in  his  answers  to  objections 
raised  against  them  ; but  a few  remarks  respecting  some  of 
these  publications  must  be  attempted. 


Age  45.] 


A Doleful  Picture. 


305 


In  a prelude  to  his  sermon  first  delivered  in  1762,  and  now 
amended,  Fletcher  gives  a doleful  picture  of  what  he  himself 
had  witnessed  during  the  interval.  He  says  : — 

*^The  substance  of  the  following  Discourse  was  committed  to  paper 
many  years  ago,  to  convince  the  Pharisees  and  papists  of  my  parish 
that  there  is  no  salvation  by  the  faithless  works  of  the  law,  but  by  a 
living  faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  With  shame  I confess  that  I did  not  then 
see  the  need  of  guarding  the  doctrine  of  faith  against  the  despisers  of 
works.  I was  chiefly  bent  upon  pulling  up  the  tares  of  Pharisaism  : 
those  of  Antinomianism  were  not  yet  sprung  up  in  the  field,  which  I 
began  to  cultivate : or  my  want  of  experience  hindered  me  from  dis- 
cerning them.  But  since,  what  a crop  of  them  have  I perceived  and 
bewailed ! 

^^Alas!  they  have,  in  a great  degree,  ruined  the  success  of  my 
ministry.  I have  seen  numbers  of  lazy  seekers,  enjoying  the  dull 
pleasure  of  sloth  on  the  couch  of  wilful  unbelief,  under  pretence  that 
God  was  to  do  all  in  them  without  them.  I have  seen  some  lie  flat 
in  the  mire  of  sin,  absurdly  boasting  that  they  could  not  fall ; and 
others  make  the  means  of  grace  means  of  idle  gossiping  or  sly  court- 
ship. I have  seen  some  turn  their  religious  profession  into  a way  of 
gratifying  covetousness  or  indolence  ; and  others,  their  skill  in  church 
music,  their  knowledge,  and  their  zeal,  into  various  nets  to  catch 
esteem,  admiration,  and  praise.  Some  I have  seen  yesterday^ s 

faith  a reason  to  laugh  at  the  cross  to-day ; and  others  drawing,  from 
their  misapprehensions  of  the  atonement,  arguments  to  be  less  im- 
portunate in  secret  prayer,  and  more  conformable  to  this  evil  world 
than  once  they  were.  Nay,  I have  seen  some  professing  believers 
backward  to  do  those  works  of  mercy,  which  I have  sometimes  found 
persons,  who  made  no  profession  of  godliness,  quite  ready  to  perform. 
And — oh  ! tell  it  in  Sion,  that  watchfulness  may  not  be  neglected 
by  believers,  that  fearfulness  may  seize  upon  backsliders,  and  that 
trembling  may  break  the  bones  of  hypocrites  and  apostates — I have 
seen  those  who  had  equally  shined  by  their  gifts  and  graces  strike  the 
moral  world  with  horror  by  the  grossest  Antinomianism,  and  disgrace 
the  doctrine  of  salvation  through  faith  by  the  deepest  plunges  into 
scandalous  sins.” 

As  already  stated,  Fletcher’s  Essay  on  Truth;  or. 
Rational  Vindication  of  the  Doctrine  of  Salvation  by  Faith,” 
was  dedicated  to  his  quondam  friend  and  patroness,  the 
Countess  of  Huntingdon,  who  again  desired  his  friendship, 
his  counsel,  and  his  prayers.  In  his  “ Dedicatory  Epistle  ” 
he  says  : — 

‘‘My  Lady, — Because  I think  it  my  duty  to  defend  the  works  of 
faith  against  the  triumphant  errors  of  the  Solifidians,  some  of  your 

20 


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Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1774- 


ladyship’s  friends  conclude  that  I am  an  enemy  to  the  doctrine  of 
salvation  by  faith^  and  their  conclusion  amounts  to  such  exclamations 
as  these  : ‘ How  could  a lady,  so  zealous  for  God’s  glory  and  the  Re- 
deemer’s grace,  commit  the  superintendency  of  a seminary  of  pious 
learning  to  a man  that  opposes  the  fundamental  doctrine  of  Protes- 
tantism ! How  could  she  put  her  sheep  under  the  care  of  such  a wolf 
in  sheep’s  clothing!’  This  conclusion,  my  lady,  has  grieved  me  for 
your  sake;  and,  to  remove  the  blot  that  it  indirectly  fixes  upon  you, 
as  well  as  to  balance  my  ‘ Scriptural  Essay  on  the  Rewardableness  ’ of 
the  works  of  faith,  I publish,  and  humbly  dedicate  to  your  ladyship,  this 
last  piece  of  my  ^ Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism. 
May  the  kindness  which  enabled  you  to  bear  for  years  with  the  coarse- 
ness of  my  ministrations  incline  you  favourably  to  receive  this  little 
token  of  my  unfeigned  attachment  to  Protestantism,  and  of  my  lasting 
respect  for  your  ladyship  ! 

‘‘  Your  aversion  to  all  that  looks  like  controversy  can  never  make  you 
think  that  an  Equal  Check  to  the  two  grand  delusions,  which  have 
crept  into  the  Church,  is  needless  in  our  days.  I flatter  myself,  there- 
fore, that  though  you  may  blame  my  ^performance,  you  will  approve  of 
my  design.  And  indeed  what  true  Christian  can  be  absolutely  neuter 
in  this  controversy  ? If  God  has  a controversy  with  all  Pharisees  and 
Antmomians,  have  not  all  God’s  children  a controversy  with  Phari- 
saism  and  Antinomianism?  Have  you  not,  for  one,  my  lady  ? Do 
you  not  check  in  private  what  I attempt  to  check  in  public  ? Does  not 
the  religious  world  know  that  you  abhor,  attack,  Pharisaism 

in  its  most  artful  disguises  ? And  have  I not  frequently  heard  you 
express,  in  the  strongest  terms,  your  detestation  of  Antinomianism, 
and  lament  the  number  of  sleeping  professors,  whom  that  Delilah  robs 
of  their  strength  ? Nor  would  you,  I am  persuaded,  my  lady,  have 
countenanced  the  opposition  which  was  made  against  the  ‘Minutes,’ 
if  your  commendable,  though  (as  it  appears  to  me)  at  that  time,  too 
precipitate  zeal  against  Pharisaism  had  not  prevented  your  seeing  that 
they  contain  the  Scripture  truths,  which  are  Attest  to  stop  the  rapid 
progress  of  Antinomianism. 

“ However,  if  you  still  think,  my  lady,  that  I mistake  with  respect  to 
the  importance  of  those  propositions,  you  know  I am  not  mistaken  when 
I declare,  before  the  world,  that  2c  powerful,  practical,  achcally  saving 
faith  is  the  only  faith  I ever  heard  your  ladyship  recommend,  as  worthy 
to  be  contended  for.  And  so  long  as  you  plead  only  for  such  a faith, 
so  long  as  you  abhor  the  winter-faith  that  saves  the  Solifldians,  in  their 
own  conceit,  while  they  commit  adultery,  murder,  and  incest,  if  they 
choose  to  carry  Antinomianism  to  such  a dreadful  length ; so  long  as 
you  are  afraid  to  maintain,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  that  the  evidence 
and  comfort  of  justifying  faith  may  be  suspended  by  sin,  but  that  the 
righteousness  of  faith,  and  the  justification  which  it  instrumentally 
procures,  can  never  be  lost,  no,  not  by  the  most  enormous  and  compli- 
cated crimes, — whatever  diversity  there  may  be  between  your  ladyship’s 
sentiments  and  mine,  it  can  never  be  fundamental.  I preach  salvation 


Age  45.] 


307 


Saving  Faith, 


by  a faith  that  actually  works  by  obedient  love,  and  your  ladyship 
witnesses  salvation  by  an  actually  operative  faith  ; nor  can  I,  to  this 
day,  see  any  material  difference  between  those  phrases  in  the  present 
controversy.  I remain,  with  my  former  respect  and  devotedness,  my 
lady,  your  ladyship’s  most  obliged  and  obedient  servant  in  the  Gospel, 

“J.  Fletcher. 

''Madeley,  March  12,  1774.” 

Fletcher’s  ‘‘Essay  on  Truth”  is  one  of  his  ablest  and 
most  important  works.  It  is  full  of  his  own  peculiar  genius, 
and — what  cannot  be  said  concerning  all  his  writings — it 
is  very  readable.  The  following  brief  extracts  from  it  may 
be  acceptable  and  useful  : — 

Saving  faith,  ‘‘What  is  saving  faith  I dare  not  say  that  it  is 
‘believing  heartily’  my  sins  are  forgiven  me  for  Christ’s  sake;  for, 
if  I live  in  sin,  that  belief  is  a destructive  conceit,  and  not  saving  fsiith. 
Neither  dare  I say,  that  ‘saving  faith  is  only  a sure  trust  and  con- 
fidence that  Christ  loved  me,  and  gave  Himself  for  me ; ’ ^ for,  if  I did, 
I should  almost  damn  all  mankind  for  four  thousand  years.  Such  de- 
finitions of  saving  faith  are,  I fear,  too  narrow  to  be  just,  and  too 
unguarded  to  keep  out  Solifidianism.^  To  avoid  such  mistakes;  to 
contradict  no  Scriptures  ; to  put  no  black  mark  of  damnatioit  upon  any 
man,  that  in  any  nation  fears  God  and  works  of  righteousness  ; to  leave 
no  room  for  Solifidianism,  and  to  present  the  reader  with  a definition  of 
faith  adequate  to  the  everlasting  Gospel,  I would  choose  to  say,  that 
justifying  or  saving  faith  is  believing  the  saving  truth  with  the  heart 
unto  internal,  and  (as  we  have  opportunity)  unto  external  righteous- 
ness^ according  to  our  light  and  dispensation.  To  St.  Paul’s  words, 
Rom.  X.  10,  I add  the  epithets  internal  and  external^  in  order  to 
exclude,  according  to  i John  iii.  7,  8,  the  filthy  imputation,  under  which 
fallen  believers  may,  if  we  credit  the  Antinomians,  commit  internal  and 
external  adultery,  mental  and  bodily  murder,  without  the  least  reason- 
able fear  of  endangering  their  faith,  their  interest  in  God’s  favour,  and 
their  inamissable  title  to  a throne  of  glory.” 


^ As  usual,  these  extracts  are  made  from  the  original  edition,  and 
the  italics  are  Fletcher’s  own. 

2 In  a foot-note,  Fletcher  remarks,  “When  the  Church  of  England 
and  Mr.  Wesley  give  us  particular  definitions  of  faith,  it  is  plain  that 
they  consider  it  according  to  the  Christian  dispensation  ; the  privileges 
of  which  must  be  principally  insisted  upon  among  Christians.” 

/ ^ Solifidianism,  now  a favourite  word  with  Fletcher,  is  thus  defined 
by  him,  in  his  ‘ ‘ Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism  : ” — “ Solifidianism  is  the 
doctrine  of  Solifidians ; and  the  Solifidians  are  men  who,  because  sin- 
ners are  justified  sola  ftde^  ‘by  sole  faith,’  in  the  day  of  conversion, 
infer,  as  Mr.  Berridge,  that  ‘believing  is  the  total  term  of  all  salvation,’ 
and  conclude,  as  Mr.  Hill,  that  the  doctrine  of  final  justification  by  the 
works  of  faith  in  the  great  day  is  ‘ full  of  rottenness  and  deadly  poison.’ 
It  is  a softer  word  for  Antinomianism.” 


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[«774- 


Faith  the  gif  t of  Gody  and  the  act  of  man,  “ How  is  faith  the  gift 
of  God  ? Some  persons  think  that  faith  is  as  much  out  of  our  power  as 
the  lightning  that  shoots  from  a distant  cloud ; they  suppose  that  God 
drives  sinners  to  the  fountain  of  Christ’s  blood,  as  irresistibly  as  the 
infernal  legion  drove  the  herd  of  swine  into  the  sea  of  Galilee.” 

After  amply  refuting  this  ^'absurd''  idea,  Fletcher  pro- 
ceeds : — 

Having  thus  exposed  the  erroneous  sense  in  which  some  people 
suppose  that  faith  is  the  gift  of  Gody  I beg  leave  to  mention  in  what 
sense  it  appears  to  me  to  be  so.  Believing  is  the  gift  of  the  God  of 
Grace,  as  breathingy  moving,  and  eating  are  the  gifts  of  the  God  of 
Nature.  He  gives  me  lungs  and  air,  that  I may  breathe  ; He  gives  me 
life  and  muscles,  that  I may  move ; He  bestows  upon  me  food  and  a 
mouth,  that  I may  eat ; but  He  neither  breathes,  moves,  nor  eatsiox  me. 
Nay,  when  I think  proper,  I can  accelerate  my  breathing,  motion,  and 
eating : and,  if  I please,  I may  fast,  lie  down,  or  hang  myself,  and, 
by  that  means,  put  an  end  to  my  eating,  moving,  and  breathing. 
Faith  is  the  gift  of  God  to  believers,  as  sight  is  to  you.  The  parent  of 
good  freely  gives  you  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  organs  proper  to  receive 
it.  Everything  around  you  bids  you  use  your  eyes  and  see ; neverthe- 
less, you  may  not  only  drop  your  curtains,  but  close  your  eyes  also. 
This  is  exactly  the  case  with  regard  to  faith.  Free  grace  removes,  in 
part,  the  total  blindness  which  Adam’s  fall  brought  upon  us  ; free  grace 
gently  sends  us  some  beams  of  truth,  which  is  the  light  of  the  sun  of 
righteousness ; it  disposes  the  eye  of  our  understanding  to  see  those 
beams ; it  excites  us,  in  various  ways,  to  welcome  them  ; it  blesses  us 
with  many,  perhaps  with  all  the  means  of  faith,  such  as,  opportunities 
to  hear,  read,  enquire,  and  power  to  consider,  assent,  consent,  resolve, 
and  re-resolve  to  believe  the  truth.  But,  after  all,  believing  \s>  as  much 
our  own  act  as  seeing.  We  may  in  general  do,  suspend,  or  omit  the 
act  of  faith.  Nay,  we  may  do  by  the  eye  of  our  faith,  what  some  report 
Democritus  did  by  his  bodily  eyes.  Being  tired  of  seeing  the  follies  of 
mankind,  to  rid  himself  of  that  disagreeable  sight,  he  put  his  eyes  out. 
We  may  be  so  averse  from  the  light,  which  enlightens  every  ma?i  that 
co?nes  into  the  world ; we  may  so  dread  it  because  our  works  are  evil, 
as  to  exemplify,  like  the  Pharisees,  such  awful  declarations  as  these  : 
Their  eyes  have  they  closed,  lest  they  should  see  : wherefore  God  gave 
them  u^  to  a re;probate  mind,  and,  they  were  blinded 

It  need  not  be  added,  that  Fletcher  abundantly  sustains 
these  figurative  arguments  by  scriptural  quotations. 

Two  extracts  more.  In  his  description  oi  saving  faith^^ 
Fletcher  refuses  to  put  the  “ black  mark  of  damnation  upon 
any  man,  that  in  any  nation  fears  God  and  works  righteous- 
ness.’’ In  his  ‘^Appendix  to  Prevent  Objections,”  he  explains 
his  meaning,  as  follows  — 


Age  45.] 


The  Athanasian  Creed. 


309 


I make  no  more  difference  between  the  faith  of  a righteous  heathen, 
and  the  faith  of  a father  in  Christ,  than  I do  between  daybreak  and 
meridian  light: — That  the  light  of  a sincere  Jew  is  as  much  one  with 
the  light  of  a sincere  Christian,  as  the  light  of  the  sun  in  a cold,  cloudy 
day  in  March  is  one  with  the  light  of  the  sun  in  a fine  day  in  May  : — 
And  that  the  difference  between  the  saving  faith  peculiar  to  the  sincere 
disciples  of  Noah,  Moses,  John  the  Baptist,  and  Jesus  Christ,  consists 
in  a variety  of  degrees^  and  not  in  a diversity  of  s^pecies ; saving  faith, 
under  all  the  dispensations,  agreeing  in  the  following  essentials  : i . It 
is  begotten  by  the  revelation  of  some  saving  truth  presented  by  free 
grace,  impressed  by  the  Spirit,  and  received  by  the  believer’s  prevented 
free  agency.  2.  It  has  the  same  original  cause  in  all,  that  is,  the  mercy 
of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  3.  It  actually  saves  all,  though  in  various 
degrees.  4.  It  sets  all  upon  working  righteousness ; some  bearhig 
fruit  thirty^  some  sixty ^ and  some  a hundredfold.  And  5.  Through 
Christ,  it  will  bring  all  that  do  not  make  shipwreck  of  it  to  one  or 
another  of  the  ‘ ma7ty  mansions P which  our  Lord  is  gone  to  prepare  in 
heaven  for  His  believmg,  obedient  people. 

And  here  honesty  obliges  me  to  lay  before  the  public  an  objection, 
which  I had  for  some  time  against  the  appendages  of  the  Athanasian 
Creed.  I admire  the  scriptural  manner  in  which  it  sets  forth  the  Divine 
Unity  in  Trinity,  and  the  Divine  Trinity  in  Unity ; but  I can  no  longer 
use  its  damnatory  clauses.  It  abruptly  takes  us  to  the  very  top  of  the 
Christiait  dispensation,  considered  in  a doctrinal  light.  This  dispen- 
sation it  calls  the  Catholic  faith  ; and,  without  mentioning  the  faith  of 
the  inferior  dispensations,  as  our  other  Creeds  do,  it  makes  us  declare, 
that  ‘ except  everyone  keep  that  faith  ’ (the  faith  of  the  highest  dispen= 
sation)  ^ whole  and  undefiled,  he  cannot  be  saved ; without  doubt,  he 
shall  perish  everlastingly.'  This  dreadful  denunciation  is  true  with 
regard  to  proud,  ungodly  infidels,  who,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  means  of 
Christian  faith,  obstinately,  maliciously,  and  finally  set-  their  hearts 
against  the  doctrine  of  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ; equally  despising 
the  Son’s  atonement,  and  the  Spirit’s  inspiration.  But  I will  no  more 
invade  Christ’s  tribunal,  and  pronounce  that  the  fearful  punishment  of 
damnation  shall  ^without  doubt'  be  inflicted  upon  ^ every'  Unitarian, 
Arian,  Jew,  Turk,  and  heathen,  that  fears  God  and  works  righteous- 
ness, though  he  does  not  hold  the  faith  of  the  Athanasian  Creed  whole. 
For,  if  you  except  the  last  Article,  thousands,  yea,  millions,  are  never 
called  to  hold  it  at  all;  and  therefore  shall  never  perish  for  not  holding 
it  whole.  At  all  hazards,  then,  I hope  I shall  never  use  again  those 
damnatory  clauses,  without  taking  the  liberty  of  guarding  them  agree- 
ably to  the  doctrine  of  the  dispensations.  And  if  Zelotes  presses  me 
with  my  subscriptions,  I reply  beforehand,  that  the  same  Church,  who 
required  me  to  subscribe  to  St.  Athanasius’s  Creed,  enjoins  me  also  to 
believe  this  clause  of  St.  Peter’s  Creed,  ^ In  every  nation,  he  that  feareth 
God  and  worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  of  Him.'  And,  if  those 
two  creeds  are  irreconcilable,  I think  it  more  reasonable  that  Athanasius 
should  bow  to  Peter,  warmed  by  the  Spirit  of  love,  than  that  Peter  should 
bow  to  Athanasius,  heated  by  controversial  opposition.” 


310 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor, 


[1774. 


Some  will  object  to  Fletcher's  teaching.  Be  it  so  : the 
writer's  business  is  neither  to  defend  nor  to  condemn  ; but 
simply  to  show,  as  far  as  possible,  what  Fletcher’s  opinions 
were.  John  Wesley  approved  them.  ‘‘ Mr.  Fletcher,”  says 
he,  in  a letter  dated  January  17,  1775,  “has  given  us  a 
wonderful  view  of  the  different  dispensations.  I believe  that 
difficult  subject  was  never  placed  in  so  clear  a light  before. 
It  seems  God  has  raised  him  up  for  this  very  thing — 

^ To  vindicate  eternal  Providence, 

And  justify  the  ways  of  God  to  man.’  ” * 

Fletcher  himself,  evidently,  felt  great  interest  in  his  “Essay 
on  Truth.”  In  a letter,  dated  March  20,  1 774,  and  addressed 
to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Benson,  he  observed  : — 

‘‘I  do  not  repent  having  engaged  in  the  present  controversy,  for, 
though  I think  my  little  publications  cannot  reclaim  those  who  are  given 
up  to  believe  the  lie  of  the  day,  yet,  they  may  here  and  there  stop  one 
from  swallowing  it  at  all,  or  from  swallowing  it  so  deeply  as  otherwise 
he  might  have  done.  In  preaching,  I do  not  meddle  with  the  points 
discussed,  unless  my  text  leads  me  to  it,  and  then  I think  them  important 
enough  not  to  be  ashamed  of  them  before  my  people. 

“ I am  just  finishing  an  ‘ Essay  on  Truth,’  which  I dedicate  to  Lady 
Huntingdon,  wherein  you  will  see  my  latest  views  of  that  important 
subject.  My  apprehensions  of  things  have  not  changed  since  I saw 
you  last ; save  that  in  one  thing  I have  seen  my  error.  An  over-eager 
attention  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Spirit  has  made  me,  in  some  degree, 
overlook  the  medium  by  which  the  Spirit  works — I mean  the  Word  of 
Trzcth^  which  is  the  word  by  which  the  heavenly  fire  warms  us.  I rather 
expected  lightning,  than  a steady  fire  by  means  of  fuel.  I mention  my 
error  to  you  lest  you  should  be  involved  therein. 

“ My  controversy  weighs  upon  my  hands  ; but  I must  go  through  with 
it;  which  I hope  will  be  done  in  two  or  three  pieces  more:  one  of  which, 

^ Scripture  Scales  to  Weigh  the  Gold  of  Gospel  Truth,’  may  be  more 
useful  than  the  Checks,  as  being  more  literally  scriptural. 

“ I have  exchanged  a couple  of  friendly  letters  with  Lady  Huntingdon, 
who  gives  me  leave  to  see  her  publicly ; but  I think  it  best  to  postpone 
that  honour  till  I have  cleared  my  mind.”  "^ 

Charles  Wesley  read  and  criticized  the  “ Essay  on  Truth,” 
upon  which  Fletcher  wrote  him  as  follows  : — 

I am  glad  you  did  not  altogether  disapprove  my  ^ Essay  on  Truth." 
The  letter,  I grant,  profiteth  little,  until  the  Spirit  animate  it.  I had, 

^ Wesley’s  Works,  voL  xiii.,  p.  52. 

^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  45.] 


Letter  to  Charles  Wesley. 


311 


some  weeks  ago,  one  of  those  touches  which  realize,  or  rather  spiritualize 
the  letter ; and  it  convinced  me  more  than  ever  that  what  I say  in  that 
tract,  of  the  Spirit  and  of  faith  ^ is  truth.  I am  also  persuaded  that 
the  faith  and  Sy>irit^  which  belong  to  perfect  Christianity,  are  at  a 
very  low  ebb,  even  among  believers.  When  the  Son  of  Man  cometh  to 
set  up  His  kingdom,  shall  He  find  Christian  faith  upon  the  earth  ? 
Yes ; but,  I fear,  as  little  as  He  found  of  Jewish  faith,  when  He  came 
in  the  flesh.  I believe  you  cannot  rest  with  the  easy  Antinomian,  or 
the  busy  Pharisee.  You  and  I have  nothing  to  do  but  to  die  to  all  that 
is  of  a sinful  nature,  and  to  pray  for  the  power  of  an  endless  life.  God 
make  us  faithful  to  our  convictions,  and  keep  us  from  the  snares  of 
outward  things.  You  are  in  danger  from  music,  children,  poetry  ; and 
I from  speculation,  controversy,  sloth,  etc.  Let  us  watch  against  the 
deceitfulness  of  self  and  sin  in  all  their  appearances. 

“ What  power  of  the  Spirit  do  you  find  among  the  believers  in  London  ? 
What  openings  of  the  kingdom  ? Is  the  well  springing  up  in  many  hearts  ? 
Are  many  souls  dissatisfied,  and  looking  for  the  kingdom  of  God  in 
power  ? Watchman  ! what  of  the  night  ? What  of  the  day  ? What 
of  the  dawn  ? 

I feel  the  force  of  what  you  say  about  the  danger  of  so  encouraging 
the  inferior  dispensations,  as  to  make  people  rest  short  of  the  faith  which 
belongs  to  perfect  Christianity.  I have  tried  to  obviate  it  in  some  parts 
of  the  * Equal  Cheeky''  and  hope  to  do  it  more  effectually  in  my  reply 
to  Mr.  Hill’s  Creed  for  Perfectionists.  Probably,  I shall  get  nothing 
by  my  polemic  labours,  but  loss  of  friends,  and  charges  of  ‘ novel 
chimeras’  on  both  sides.  I expect  a letter  from  you  on  the  subject. 
Write  with  openness,  and  do  not  fear  to  discourage  me  by  speaking 
your  disapprobation  of  what  you  dislike.  My  aim  is  to  be  found  at  the 
feet  of  all,  bearing  and  forbearing  until  truth  and  love  bring  better  days. 

“ I am,  rev.  and  dear  Sir,  your  most  affectionate  brother  and  son  in 
the  Gospel, 

''J.  Fletcher.”^ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  224. 


312 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1775- 


chapter  XVII. 


PUBLICATIONS  IN  THE  YEAR 


O 


1775- 

N November  12,  1774,  Fletcher  wrote: — 


The  author  of  the  ‘ Checks^  has  promised  to  his  readers  an 
answer  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady’s  piece,  entitled,  ^ More  Work  for 
Mr.  Wesley.'^  His  reason  for  postponing  the  finishing  of  that ^ art 
of  his  ^ Logica  Genevensis'^  was  the  importance  of  the  ^ Equal  Cheeky 
which  closes  the  controversy  with  Mr.  Hill.  He  saw  life  so  uncertain, 
that,  of  two  things  which  he  was  obliged  to  do,  he  thought  it  his  duty 
to  set  about  that  which  appeared  to  him  the  more  useful.  He  considered 
also  that  it  was  proper  to  have  quite  done  with  Mr.  Hill,  before  he  faced 
so  able  a writer  as  Mr.  Toplady.  And  he  hoped,  that,  to  lay  before  the 
judicious  a complete  system  of  truth,  which,  like  the  sun,  recommends 
itself  by  its  own  lustre,  was  perhaps  the  best  method  to  prove  that  error, 
which  shines  only  as  a meteor,  is  nothing  but  a mock-sun.  However, 
he  fully  designs  to  perform  his  engagement  in  a short  time,  if  his  life  is 
spared.’’ 


This  was  prefixed  to  the  first  edition  of  the  following 
work,  which,  at  that  time,  was  in  the  press  : “ Zelotes  and 
Honestus^  Reconciled  ; or,  an  Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism 
and  Antinomianism  Continued  : Being  the  First  Part  of  the 
Scripture  Scales  to  weigh  the  Gold  of  Gospel  Truth, — to 
balance  a multitude  of  opposite  Scriptures, — to  prove  the 
Gospel-Marriage  of  Free-Grace  and  Free-will^ — and  to  restore 
primitive  harmony  to  the  Gospel  of  the  day.  With  a Preface, 
containing  some  Strictures  upon  the  Three  Letters  of  Richard 
Hill,  Esq.  ; which  have  been  lately  published.” 


* This  was  published  in  1772,  and  will  be  noticed  shortly. 

2 “Zelotes,”  says  Fletcher,  “represents  any  zealous  Solifidian,  who 
looks  upon  the  doctrine  of  free-will  as  heretical : Honestus,  any  zealous 
moralist,  who  looks  upon  the  doctrine  of  free  grace  as  enthusiastical.” 


Age  46.]  Mr,  Richard  Hildas  Three  Letters T 


313 


This  was  Fletcher’s  largest  work.  It  was  published  in 
two  parts,  but  it  was  continuously  paged,  the  whole  making 
a 1 2 mo.  vol.  of  444  pages. 

Mr.  Hill’s  ‘‘Three  Letters  ” were  published  in  1773,  just 
after  the  publication  of  his  “ Finishing  Stroke.”  The  letters 
have  been  given  in  a previous  chapter.  Fletcher  had  answered 
them  privately  ; and  now,  in  a preface  to  his  present  work, 
he  replied  publicly.  After  stating  that  Mr.  Hill’s  pamphlet 
“ had  been  hawked  about  the  parish  of  Madeley  ” by  the 
newsman,  he  proceeds  to  say  : — 

Mr.  Hill  quits  the  field ; but  it  is  like  a brave  Parthian.  He  not 
only  shoots  his  own  arrows  as  he  retires,  but  borrows  those  also  of  two 
persons,  whom  he  calls  ‘ a very  eminent  minister  in  the  Chm'ch  of 
England'  and  ‘ a lay  gentleman  of  great  learning  aitd  abilities  ' As 
I see  neither  argument  nor  Scripture  in  the  performances  of  those  two 
new  auxiliaries,  I shall  take  no  notice  of  their  ingrafted  productions. 

“With  respect  to  Mr.  Hill’s  arguments,  they  are  the  same  which  he 
advanced  in  his  ‘ Finishing  Stroke  ; ’ nor  need  we  wonder  at  his  not 
scrupling  to  produce  them  over  again,  just  as  if  they  had  been  over- 
looked by  his  opponent,  for  in  the  first  page  of  his  book  he  says,  ^ I have 
not  read  a single  ;page  which  treats  on  the  sicbject  since  I wrote  my 
Finishing  Stroke.’ 

“As  Mr.  Hill’s  arguments  are  the  same,  so  are  also  his  personal 
charges.  After  passing  some  compliments  upon  me  as  an  ‘ able  defender 
of  Mr.  Wesley’s  principles,’  he  continues  to  represent  me  as  ^prostitut- 
ing noble  endowments  to  the  advancing  of  a party.'  He  affirms, 
without  shadow  of  proof,  that  he  has  ^ detected  many  misrepresenta- 
tions of  facts  throughout'  my  ^ publications  ' He  accuses  me  of 
using  ‘ unbecoming  artifices,  much  declamation,  chicanery,  and 
evasion  ; ' and  says,  ‘ upon  these  accounts  I really  cannot,  with  any 
degree  of  satisfaction,  read  the  works  of  one  who,  lam  in  continual 
suspicion,  is  endeavouring  to  mislead  me  by  false  glosses  and  pious 
frauds  ' 

“ I cannot  but  still  love  and  honour  Mr.  Hill  on  many,  very  many, 
accounts.  Though  his  warm  attachment  to  what  calls  ‘ the  doctrines 
of  grace,’  and  what  we  call  ffihe  doctrines  of  limited  grace  and  free 
wrath,'  robs  him  from  time  to  time  oipartoi  the  moderation,  patience, 
and  meekness  of  wisdom  which  adorn  the  complete  Christian  character, 

I cannot  but  consider  him  as  a very  valuable  person.  I do  not  doubt 
but  when  the  paroxysm  of  his  Calvinistic  zeal  shall  be  over,  he  will  be 
as  great  an  ornament  to  the  Church  of  England  in  the  capacity  of  a 
gentleman,  as  he  is  to  civil  society  in  the  capacity  of  a magistrate. 
And  justice,  as  well  as  love,  obliges  me  to  say  that  in  the  mean  time 
he  is,  in  several  respects,  a pattern  for  all  gentlemen  of  fortune ; few 
equalling  him  in  devoting  a large  fortune  to  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and 


3H 


Wesley’ s Designated  Successor. 


[1775- 


their  leisure  hours  to  the  support  of  what  they  esteem  the  truth.  Happy 
would  it  be  for  him,  and  for  the  peace  of  the  Church,  if  to  all  his  good 
qualities  he  always  added  the  ornament  of  a meek  and  quiet  spirit ; 
and  if  he  so  far  suspected  his  orthodoxy  as  to  condescend  to  weigh  him- 
self in  the  ' Scri;pture  Scales.  ’ ’ ’ 

Fletcher’s  preface  to  his  ‘‘  Scripture  Scales  ” is  humbly 
addressed  to  the  true  Protestants  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.” 

The  Reformers,’^  says  he,  protested  three  things  in  general: — 
I.  That  right  reason  has  an  important  place  in  matters  of  faith.  2. 
That  all  matters  of  faith  may  and  must  be  decided  by  Scripture,  under- 
stood reasonably  and  consistently  with  the  context.  3.  That  antiquity 
and  fathers,  traditions  and  councils,  canons  and  the  Church,  lose  their 
authority  when  they  depart  from  sober  reason  and  plain  Scripture.  These 
three  general  protests  are  the  very  ground  of  our  religion  when  it  is 
contradistinguished  from  Popery.  They  who  stand  to  them  deserve,  in 
my  humble  opinion,  the  title  of  true  Protestants. 

If  the  preceding  account  is  just,  true  Protestants  are  all  candid ; 
Christian  candour  being  nothing  but  a readiness  to  hear  right  reason 
and  plain  Scri;pturc.  Of  all  the  tempers  which  true  Protestants  abhor, 
none  seems  to  them  more  detestable  than  that  of  those  gnostics^  those 
pretenders  to  superior  illumination,  who,  under  the  common  pretence  of 
orthodoxy  or  infallibility,  shut  their  eyes  against  the  light,  think  plain 
Scripture  beneath  their  notice,  enter  their  protest  against  reason,  and 
steel  their  breasts  against  conviction.  Alas  ! how  many  professors 
there  are  who,  like  St.  Stephen’s  opponents,  judges,  and  executioners, 
are  neither  able  to  resist  nor  willing  to  admit  the  truth  ; who  make  their 
defence  by  stopping  their  ears,  and  crying  out,  ‘ The  temple  of  the  Lord, 
the  temple  of  the  Lord  are  we  ! ’ who  thrust  the  supposed  heretic  out  of 
their  sanhedrim  ; who,  from  the  press,  the  pulpit,  or  the  doctor’s  chair, 
send  volleys  of  hard  insinuations  or  soft  assertions,  in  hope  that  they  will 
pass  for  solid  arguments  ; and  who,  when  they  have  no  more  stones  or 
snowballs  to  throw  at  the  supposed  Philistine,  prudently  avoid  drawing 
‘ the  sword  of  the  Spirit,'  retire  behind  the  walls  of  their  fancied  ortho- 
doxy, raise  a rampart  of  slanderous  contempt  against  the  truth  that 
besieges  them,  and  obstinately  refuse  either  candidly  to  give  up,  or 
manfully  contend  for,  the  unscriptural  tenets  which  they  will  impose  upon 
others  as  pure  Gospel. 

Whether  some  of  my  opponents,  good  men  as  they  are,  have  not  a 
little  inclined  to  the  error  of  those  sons  of  prejudice,  I leave  the  candid 
reader  to  decide.  They  have  neither  answered  nor  yielded  to  the  argu- 
ments of  my  'Checks.’  They  are  shut  up  in  their  own  city.  Strong 
and  high  are  thy  walls,  O mystical  Jericho  ! Thy  battlements  reach 
into  the  clouds,  but  truth,  the  spiritual  ark  of  God,  is  stronger,  and 
shall  prevail.  The  bearing  of  it  patiently  around  thy  ramparts,  and  the 
blowing  of  rams’  horns  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  will  yet  shake  the  very 


Age  46.] 


“ Scripture  Scales,’*^ 


315 


foundations  of  thy  towers.  Oh  that  I had  the  honour  of  successfully 
mixing  my  feeble  voice  with  the  blasts  of  the  champions  who  encompass 
the  devoted  city  ! Oh  that  the  irresistible  shout,  Reason  and  Scripture 
— Christ  a72d  the  2 ruth — were  universal ! If  this  were  the  case,  how 
soon  would  Jericho  and  Babylon — Antinomianism  and  Pharisaism — fall 
together. 

‘'These  two  anti-Christian  fortresses  are  equally  attacked  in  the 
following  pages. 

“ The  controversy  is  one  of  the  most  important  which  was  ever  set  on 
foot.  The  GRAND  inquiry,  ‘ What  shalt  I do  to  be  saved  ? ’ is  entirely 
suspended  on  this  greater  question,  ‘ Have  I anything  TO  DO  to  be 
eternalty  saved?  ' A question  this  which  admits  of  three  answers  : — 
I.  That  of  the  mere  Solipdian,  who  says.  If  we  are  etect,  we  have 
nothing  to  do  in  order  to  eternal  salvation,  unless  it  be  to  believe  that 
Christ  has  done  all  for  us,  and  then  to  sing  finished  salvation  ; and  if 
we  are  not  elect,  whether  we  do  nothing,  little,  or  much,  eternal  ruin  is 
our  inevitable  portion.  2.  That  of  the  mere  moralist,  who  is  as  great 
a stranger  to  the  doctrine  of  free  grace  as  to  that  of  free  wrath  ; and 
tells  you  that  there  is  no  free,  initial  salvation  for  us,  and  that  we  must 
work  ourselves  into  a state  of  initial  salvation  by  dint  of  care,  diligence, 
and  faithfulness.  And  3.  That  of  their  reconciler , whom  I consider  as 
a rational  Bible  Christian-,  and  who  asserts  (i)  that  Christ  has  done  the 
part  of  a Sacrificing  Priest  and  teaching  Prophet  upon  earth,  and  does 
still  that  of  an  Interceding  and  Royal  Priest  in  heaven,  whence  He 
sends  His  Holy  Spirit  to  act  as  an  enlightener,  sanctifier,  comforter, 
and  helper  in  our  hearts  ; (2)  that  the  free  gif t of  initial  salvation,  and 
of  one  or  more  talents  of  saving  grace,  ‘ is  come  u;pon  all  ’ through  the 
God-man  Christ,  who  ‘ is  the  Saviour  of  all  me7i,  es^pecially  of  them 
that  believe  ; ’ and  (3)  that  our  free  will,  assisted  by  that  saving  grace 
imparted  to  us  in  the  free  gift,  is  enabled  to  work  with  God  in  a sub- 
ordinate manner,  so  that  we  may  freely  {without  necessity)  do  the  part 
of  penitent,  obedient,  and  persevering  believers,  according  to  the 
Gospel  dispensation  we  are  under. 

“ This  is  the  plan  of  this  work,  in  which  I equally  fight  for  faith  and 
works,  for  gratuitous  mercy  and  impartial  justice  ; reconciling  all  along 
Christ  our  Saviour  with  Christ  our  Judge,  heated  Augustin  with  heated 
Pelagius,  free  grace  with  free  will.  Divine  goodness  with  human  obedi- 
ence, the  faithfulness  of  God’s  promises  with  the  veracity  of  His  threat- 
enings,  first  with  second  causes,  the  original  merits  of  Christ  with  the 
derived  worthiness  of  His  members,  and  God’s  foreknowledge  with  our 
free  agency. 

“ The  plan,  I think,  is  generous ; standing  at  the  utmost  distance 
from  the  extremes  of  bigots.  It  is  deep  and  extensive  ; taking  in  the 
most  interesting  subjects,  such  as  the  origin  of  evil,  liberty,  and  neces- 
sity, the  law  of  Moses  and  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  general  and  particular 
redemption,  the  apostacy  and  perseverance  of  the  saints,  and  the 
election  and  reprobation  maintained  by  St.  Paul.  I entirely  rest  the 
cause  upon  Protestant  ground  ; that  is,  upon  Reason  and  Scripture, 


3*6 


Wesley's  Llesignated  Successor. 


[1775- 


Nevertheless,  to  show  our  antagonists  that  we  are  not  afraid  to  meet 
them  upon  any  ground,  I prove,  by  sufficient  testimonies  from  the 
fathers  and  the  Reformers,  that  the  most  eminent  divines  in  the  primi- 
tive Church  and  our  own,  have  passed  the  straits  which  I point  out  ; 
especially  when  they  weighed  the  heavy  anchor  of  prejudice,  had  a 
good  gale  of  Divine  wisdom,  and  steered  by  the  Christian  mariner’s 
compass,  ' the  Word  of  God^^  more  than  by  the  false  lights  hung  out 
by  party  men.” 

It  is  hoped  that  these  quotations  from  the  preface  of 
Fletcher’s  book  will  induce  the  reader  to  peruse  and  study 
the  book  itself.  To  analyse  it  here  is  impracticable  ; and  if 
one  extract  were  given,  hundreds  ought  to  follow.  In  this 
frothy  age,  the  book  to  many  will  seem  dry  and  tedious  ; 
but  to  a man  sincerely  and  earnestly  in  search  of  sacred 
truth  it  will  prove  a mine  full  of  invaluable  treasures. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  edition,  the  following  was  printed  : — 

Advertisement. 

^‘The  key  to  the  controversy,  which  is  designed  to  be  ended  by  the 
‘ Scri;pture  Scales proving  too  long  for  this  place,  the  publication  of 
it  is  postponed.  It  may  one  day  open  the  iox:  An  Essay  on  the 
XVIIth  Article^  under  the  following  title:  ‘The  Doctrines  of  Grace 
Reconciled  to  the  Doctrines  of  Justice.  Being  an  Essay  on  Election 
and  Reprobation,  in  which  the  defects  of  Eelagianism,  Calvinism^ 
and  Arminianism  are  impartially  pointed  out,  and  primitive,  scriptural 
harmony  is  more  fully  restored  to  the  Gospel  of  the  day.’  ” 

This  was  not  published  until  the  year  1777  ; but  it  is 
mentioned  here  to  show  that,  in  substance,  it  was  already 
written,  and,  thereby,  to  show  the  activity  of  Fletcher’s  mind, 
and  the  accumulated  labours  which  soon  broke  down  his 
health. 

No  sooner  was  the  publication  of  his  ‘‘  Scripture  Scales,” 
or  “ Equal  Check  to  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism,”  com- 
pleted, than  he  committed  to  the  press  the  following  : “ The 
Fictitious  and  the  Genuine  Creed  : Being  ‘ A Creed  for 

Arminians,’  composed  by  Richard  Hill,  Esq.  ; to  which  is 
opposed  ‘ A Creed  for  those  who  believe  that  Christ  tasted 
death  for  every  man!  By  the  author  of  the  ‘ Checks  to 
Antinomianism.’  London,  1775.’'  i2mo,  52  pp. 

The  reader  will  remember  that,  in  bad  taste,  Fletcher,  in 
1772,  had  published,  in  his  ‘‘Fourth  Check  to  Antinomian- 
ism,” a “sweet  gospel  proclamation:  Given  at  Geneva,  and 


Age  46.] 


The  Fictitious  and  the  Genuine  Creed F 


317 


signed  by  four  of  His  Majesty’s  principal  Secretaries  of 
State  for  the  Predestination  Department — John  Calvin,  Dr. 
Crisp,  The  Author  of  P.O.”  (Richard  Hill),  “and  Rowland 
Hill.”  This  provoked  Richard  Hill ; and,  when  he  published 
his  “.Three  Letters  written  to  the  Rev.  J.  Fletcher,  in  the 
year  I773,”he,  in  equally  bad  taste,  attached  an  “Appendix” 
to  his  Letters,  entitled,  “ A Creed  for  Arminians  and  Per- 
fectionists.” Now,  in  177s,  Fletcher  felt  it  his  duty  to 
examine  the  Creed  so  ingeniously  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Hill, 
and  to  expose  its  fallacies.  The  following  is  an  extract 
from  Fletcher’s  preface  : — 

With  regard  to  our  extensive  views  of  Christ’s  redemption  by  price, 
Mr.  Hill  calls  us  Armmians : and  with  respect  to  our  believing  that 
there  is  no  perfect  faith,  no  perfect  repentance  in  the  grave ; that  the 
Christian  graces  of  repentance,  faith,  hope,  patience,  etc.,  must  be 
perfected  here  or  never ; and  with  respect  to  our  confidence Christ’s 
blood,  fully  applied  by  His  Spirit,  and  apprehended  by  faith,  can  cleanse 
our  hearts  from  all  unrighteousness  before  we  go  into  the  purgatory  of 
the  Calvinists,  or  into  that  of  the  fafists,  that  is,  before  we  go  into 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  or  into  the  suburbs  of  hell — with 
respect  to  this  delief  3ind  confidence,  I say,  Mr.  Hill  calls  us  Perfec- 
tionists; and,  appearing  once  more  upon  the  stage  of  our  controversy, 
he  has  lately  presented  the  public  with  what  he  calls,  ‘ A Creed  for 
Arminians  and  Perfectionists,  which  he  introduces  in  these  words  : 

‘ The  following  confession  of  faith,  however  shocking,  7zot  to  say 
blasfhemous,  it  may  affear  to  the  humble  Christian,  must  inevitably 
be  adopted,  if  not  in  exfress  words,  yet,  in  st{.bstance,  by  every 
Arminian  uud  Perfectionist  whatsoever ; though  the  last  article  of 
it  chiefly  concerns  such  as  are  ordained  ministers  in  the  Church  of 
England,'  And,  as  among  such  ministers,  Mr.  J.  Wesley,  Mr.  W. 
Sellon,  and  myself  peculiarly  oppose  Mr.  Hill’s  Calvinian  doctrines  of 
absolute  election  and  reprobation,  and  of  a death-fur  gator y , he  has 
put  the  initial  letters  of  our  names  to  his  Creed  ; hoping,  no  doubt,  to 
make  us  peculiarly  ashamed  of  our  principles.  And,  indeed,  so  should 
we  be,  if  any  ^blasphemous'  or  ^shocking'  consequence  ^inevitably' 
flowed  from  them.” 

Probably,  by  this  time,  the  reader  is  tired  of  Creeds.  He 
has  had  Fletcher’s  Creed  for  an  Antinomian  ; Mr.  Richard 
Hill’s  Creed  for  Arminians  and  Perfectionists  ; and  now  he 
has,  in  “ The  Fictitious  and  the  Genuine  Creed,”  Fletcher’s 
Creed  for  Methodists.  The  last  may  be  dry  reading,  but  it 
contains  truths  of  the  utmost  importance, — truths  which 
Fletcher  spent  the  greatest  part  of  his  literary  life  in  endea- 


318 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1775* 


vouring  to  explain  and  to  defend  ; and,  speaking  generally, 
truths  which  Wesley  himself  endorsed,  embraced,  and  taught. 
Fletcher  concludes  his  pamphlet  with  the  following  scrap  of 
autobiography  : — 

“ I shall  close  this  answer  to  the  Creed,  which  Mr.  Hill  has  composed 
for  Armmians^  by  an  observation  which  is  not  foreign  to  our  contro- 
versy. In  one  of  the  ^ Three  Letters’  which  introduce  the  Fictitious 
Creed,  Mr.  Hill  says,  ‘ Controversy ^ I am  ;persuaded^  has  not  done  me 
any  good g and  he  exhorts  me  to  examine  myself  closely  whether  I 
cannot  make  the  same  confession.  I own  that  it  would  have  done  me 
harm,  if  I had  blindly  contended  for  my  opinions.  Nay,  if  I had  shut 
my  eyes  against  the  light  of  truth  ; — if  I had  set  the  plainest  Scriptures 
aside,  as  if  they  were  not  worth  my  notice  ; — if  I had  overlooked  the 
strongest  arguments  of  my  opponents  ; — if  I had  advanced  groundless 
charges  against  them  ; — if  I had  refused  to  do  justice  to  their  good 
meaning  or  piety ; — and,  above  all,  if  I had  taken  my  leave  of  them  by 
injuring  their  moral  character,  by  publishing  over  and  over  again  argu- 
ments, which  they  have  properly  answered,  without  taking  the  least 
notice  of  their  answers  ; — if  I had  made  a solemn  promise  not  to  read 
one  of  their  books,  though  they  should  publish  a thousand  volumes  ; — 
if,  continuing  to  write  against  them,  I had  fixed  upon  them  (as  ^ unavoid- 
able'  consequences)  absurd  tenets,  which  have  no  more  necessary  con- 
nexion with  their  principles  than  the  doctrine  of  general  redemption  has 
with  Calvinian  reprobation.  If  I had  done  this,  I say,  controversy  would 
have  wounded  my  conscience  or  my  reason  ; and,  without  adding  any- 
thing to  my  light,  it  would  have  immovably  fixed  me  in  my  prejudices, 
and  perhaps  branded  me  before  the  world  for  an  Arminian  bigot.  But, 
as  matters  are,  I hope  I may  make  the  following  acknowledgments 
without  betraying  the  impertinence  of  proud  boasting. 

Although  I have  often  been  sorry  that  controversy  should  take  up 
so  much  of  the  time  which  I might,  with  much  more  satisfaction  to 
myself,  have  employed  in  devotional  exercises ; and  although  I have 
lamented,  and  do  still  lament,  my  low  attainments  in  the  meekness  of 
wisdom,  which  should  constantly  guide  the  pen  of  every  controversial 
writer;  yet,  I rejoice  that  I have  been  enabled  to  persist  in  my  reso- 
lution, either  to  wipe  off,  or  to  share  the  reproach  of  those  who  have 
hazarded  their  reputation  in  defence  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion. 
And,  if  I am  not  mistaken,  my  repeated  attempts  have  been  attended 
with  these  happy  effects 

“ In  vindicating  the  moral  doctrines  of  grace,  I hope  that,  as  a man, 
I have  learned  to  think  more  closely,  and  to  investigate  truth  more 
ardently,  than  I did  before. 

As  a divine,  I see  more  clearly  the  gaps  and  stiles,  at  which  mis- 
taken good  men  have  turned  out  of  the  narrow  way  of  truth,  to  the  right 
hand  and  to  the  left. 

As  a Protestant,  I hope  I have  much  more  esteem  for  the  Scriptures 
in  general,  and  in  particular  for  those  practical  parts  of  them,  which 


Age  46.]  The  Controversy  has  done  Fletcher  Good.  319 


the  Calvinists  had  insensibly  taught  me  to  overlook,  or  despise.  And 
this  increasing  esteem  is,  I trust,  accompanied  with  a deeper  conviction 
of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  and  with  a greater  readiness  to  defend  the 
Gospel  against  infidels,  Pharisees,  and  Antinomians. 

‘‘As  a Preacher y I hope  I can  now  do  more  justice  to  a text  by 
reconciling  it  with  seemingly  contrary  Scriptures. 

“As  an  Anti- Calvinist y I have  learned  to  do  the  Calvinists  justice, 
in  granting  that  there  is  an  election  of  distinguishing  grace  for  God’s 
peculiar  people,  and  2.  ;p articular  redem;ption  for  all  believers  who  are 
faithful  unto  death.  I can  more  easily  excuse  pious  Calvinists,  who, 
through  prejudice,  mistake  that  Scriptural  election  for  their  Antino- 
mian  election ; and  who  consider  that  particular  redemption  as  the 
only  redemption  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures.  Nay,  I can,  without 
scruple,  allow  Mr.  Hill  that  his  doctrines  of  finished  salvation  and 
irresistible  grace  are  true  with  respect  to  all  those  who  die  in  their 
infancy. 

“As  one  who  is  called  an  Arminian,  I have  found  out  some  flaws  in 
Arminianisniy  and  evidenced  my  impartiality  in  pointing  them  out,  as 
well  as  the  flaws  of  Calvinism. 

“As  a Witness  for  the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  I hope  I have  learned  to 
bear  reproach  from  all  sorts  of  people  with  more  undaunted  courage. 
And  I humbly  trust,  that,  were  I called  to  seal  with  my  blood  the  truth 
of  the  doctrines  of  grace  and  of  justice,  against  the  Pharisees  and 
Antinomians , I could  (Divine  grace  supporting  me  to  the  last)  do  it 
more  rationally,  and  of  consequence  with  greater  steadiness. 

“ As  a Follower  of  Christ,  I hope  I have  learned  to  disregard  my 
dearest  friends  for  my  Heavenly  Prophet ; or,  to  speak  the  language  of 
our  Lord,  I hope  I have  learned  to  forsake father  ,jnother , and  brothers 
for  Christ’s  sake,  and  the  Gospel’ s, 

“As  2,  Disputant,  I have  learned  that  solid  arguments,  and  plain 
Scriptures,  make  no  more  impression  upon  bigotry,  than  the  charmer’s 
voice  does  upon  the  deaf  adder ; and,  by  that  means,  I hope,  I depend 
less  upon  the  powers  of  reason,  the  letter  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
candour  of  professors,  than  I formerly  did. 

“As  a Believer,  I have  been  brought  to  see  and  feel  that  the  power 
of  the  Spirit  of  truth,  which  teaches  men  to  be  of  one  heart,  and  of  07te 
mind,  and  makes  them  think  and  speak  the  same,  is  at  a very  low  ebb 
in  the  religious  world. 

“As  a Member  of  the  Church  of  England,  I have  learned  to  be 
pleased  with  our  holy  Mother,  for  giving  us  floods  of  pure  morality  to 
wash  away  the  few  remaining  Calvinian  freckles  that  remain  upon  her 
face. 

“As  a Christian,  I hope  I have  learned,  in  some  degree,  to  exercise 
that  charity,  which  teaches  us  boldly  to  oppose  a dangerous  error 
without  ceasing  to  honour  and  love  its  abettors,  so  far  as  they  resemble 
our  Lord. 

“And,  lastly,  as  a Writer,  I have  learned  to  feel  the  truth  of 
Solomon’s  observation,  ‘ Of  making  many  books  there  is  no  end,  and 


320 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1775- 


much  study  is  a weariness  of  the  flesh  : Let  us  hear  the  conclusion 
of  the  whole  matter  : Fear  God  and  kee;p  His  commandments  ; for 
this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man  F and  the  sum  of  the  Anti- Solifidian 
truth,  which  I endeavour  to  vindicate. 

do  not  say  that  I have  learned  any  of  these  lessons  as  I should 
have  done  ; but  I hope  I have  learned  so  much  of  them  as  to  say  that, 
in  these  respects,  my  controversial  toil  has  not  been  altogether  in  vain 
in  the  Lord.” 

The  reader  must  excuse  these  long  extracts  ; for  there 
seems  to  be  no  better  way  of  giving  a correct  and  full  idea 
of  Fletcher  s views  and  character. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  edition  of  his  pamphlet,  Fletcher 
inserted  the  following  “ Advertisement : — 

^‘Mr.  Hill’s  ‘ Creed  for  Arminians^  is  followed  by  his  plea  for  the 
inbred  man  of  sin.  This  indirect  and  witty  plea  he  calls,  * A Creed 
for  Perfectionists'  But,  as  that  part  of  his  performance  has  no  im- 
mediate connection  with  the  doctrines  vindicated  in  the  preceding 
pages,  I design  to  make  my  remarks  upon  it  in  a separate  Tract.” 

This  ‘‘Tract,”  as  Fletcher  calls  it,  seems  to  have  been 
already  written,  for  it  was  forthwith  published,  and  entitled, 

“ The  Last  Check  to  Antinomianism.  A Polemical  Essay 
on  the  Twin  Doctrines  of  Christian  Imperfection  and  a Death 
Purgatory^  By  the  Author  of  the  Checks.  London  : 1775. 

1 2 mo.,  328  pp. 

At  this  time,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Reader,  a Dissenting 
Minister,  at  Taunton,  held  a position  similar  to  that  which 
had  been  held  by  Doddridge,  at  Northampton.  He  was  the 
President  of  a College  for  training  Independent  Ministers, 
and  was  a zealous  Calvinist.  When  Fletcher’s  new  book 
was  published,  Mr.  Reader  read  it,  and  was  so  angry  with 
its  contents  that  he  started  off  to  Madeley,  a long  journey, 
to  rebuke  the  author  for  his  heresy.  Arriving  at  his  des- 
tination, he  hastened  to  the  vicarage,  knocked  loudly  at  the 
door,  told  the  servant  who  he  was,  and  requested  an  inter- 
view with  the  Vicar.  Fletcher,  knowing  him  by  name,  ran 
from  his  study  to  receive  his  visitor,  and  spreading  out  his' 
hands,  exclaimed,  “ Come  in,  come  in,  thou  blessed  of  the 
Lord ! Am  I so  honoured  as  to  receive  a visit  from  so  esteemed 
a servant  of  my  Master  } Let  us  have  a little  prayer,  while 
refreshments  are  getting  ready.”  Mr.  Reader  was  puzzled. 


Age  46.] 


Christiaii  Perfection, 


321 


He  remained  three  days,  but  was  utterly  unable  to  muster 
sufficient  courage  to  even  intimate  the  object  of  his  visit. 
Afterwards  he  stated  that  he  never  enjoyed  three  days  of 
such  spiritual  and  profitable  intercourse  in  all  his  life.^ 

Fletcher’s  books,  prayers,  conversations,  and  tempers  were 
a glorious  manifestation  of  the  truths  he  taught  in  his 
elaborate  and  able  treatise  on  Christian  Perfection, — a treatise 
never  equalled,  except  by  the  treatise  and  the  sermons  of 
Wesley  on  the  same  subject.  Wesley  and  Fletcher  are 
easily  understood  ; modern  writers  on  this  all-important 
doctrine  are  too  often  mystics,  or,  rather,  mystifiers.  The 
former  expounded  Scripture,  the  latter  disastrously  obscure 
Scripture  by  what  they  consider  to  be  philosophy.  The 
Methodists  need  no  new  exposition  of  this  old  Methodist 
truth.  Never  can  it  be  more  plainly  stated  and  more  in- 
disputably proved,  than  it  is  in  the  Plain  Account  ” of 
Wesley,  and  the  “ Polemical  Essay  ” of  his  friend  Fletcher. 
Well  would  it  be  if  the  present  race  of  Methodists  would  read 
these,  in  preference  to  the  bewildering  trash  so  injuriously 
read  in  the  stead  of  them.  Truth  never  changes ! and 
changes  of  society  can  never  justify  the  new  settings  forth  of 
truth,  nowadays  so  ignorantly  demanded. 

A brief  analysis  of  Pdetcher’s  invaluable  book,  and  a few 
extracts  from  it,  must  be  given. 

In  reference  to  the  word  “ Perfection,”  which  occasioned 
so  much  offence,  Pdetcher  writes : — 

Christian  Perfection  / Why  should  the  harmless  phrase  offend 
us  ? Perfection  ! Why  should  that  lovely  word  frighten  us  ? The  word 
^predestinate  occurs  but  four  times  in  all  the  Scriptures  ; and  the  word 
predestination  not  once  ; and  yet  Mr.  Hill  would  justly  exclaim  against 
us,  if  we  showed  our  wit,  by  calling  out  for  ' a little  Foundery  ’ (or 
Tabernacle)  ‘ eye-salve  ^ to  help  us  to  see  the  predestination  once 
in  all  the  Bible.  Not  so  the  word  perfection.  It  occurs,  with  its 
derivatives,  as  frequently  as  most  words  in  the  Scripture.;  and  not 
seldom  in  the  very  same  sense  in  which  we  take  it ; nevertheless,  we  do 
not  lay  an  undue  stress  upon  the  expression ; and,  if  we  thought  that 
our  condescension  would  answer  any  good  end,  we  would  give  up  that 
harmless  and  significant  word.’^ 

In  reply  to  the  unfair  and  untrue  taunt  that  Wesley  and 


^‘Methodism  in  North  Devon,”  p.  115. 


322 


Wesley’ s Designated  Successor. 


[1775- 


Fletcher  taught  the  doctrine  of  sinless  perfection,  Fletcher 
makes  an  admirable  quotation  from  Wesley : — 

“To  explain  myself  a little  farther  on  this  head:  i.  Not  only  SIN, 
prosper ly  so  called^  that  is,  a voluntary  transgression  of  a known  law, 
but  sin  IMPROPERLY  so  called,  that  is,  an  involuntary  transgression 
of  a divine  law,  known  or  unknown,  needs  the  atoning  blood.  2.  I 
believe  there  is  no  such  perfection  in  this  life,  as  excludes  these  in- 
voluntary transgressions,  which  T apprehend  to  be  naturally  con- 
sequent on  the  ignorance  and  mistakes  inseparable  from  mortality. 
3.  Therefore,  sinless  perfection  is  a phrase  I never  use,  lest  I should 
seem  to  contradict  myself.  4.  I believe  a person  filled  with  the  love  of 
God  is  still  liable  to  these  involuntary  transgressions.  5.  Such  trans- 
gressions you  may  call  sins  if  you  please ; I do  not,  for  the  reasons 
above-mentioned.” 

Fletcher  then  proceeds  to  prove  that  ‘‘  Pious  Calvinists 
have  had,  at  times,  nearly  the  same  views  of  Christian  Per- 
fection ''  that  he  and  Wesley  had. 

“They  dissent  from  us,”  says  he,  “because  they  confound  the  anti- 
evangelical law  of  innocence  and  the  evangelical  law  of  liberty — ■ 
peccability  and  sin — Adamic  and  Christian  Perfection  ; and  because 
they  do  not  consider  that  Christian  Perfection,  falling  infinitely  short  of 
God’s  absolute  perfection,  admits  of  a daily  growth. 

The  third  section  of  Fletcher's  work  is  occupied  with 
answers  to  popular  objections  ; and  the  fourth  amply  proves 
that  the  doctrine  for  which  he  is  contending  is  a doctrine 
taught  in  the  formularies  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Mr.  Hill,  in  the  Eleventh  Article  of  his  “Fictitious  Creed,” 
had  made  Fletcher,  Wesley,  and  Walter  Sellon,  not  only 
deny  “ The  Thirty-nine  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England,” 
which  they  had  “ solemnly  subscribed,”  but  also  the  truthful 
teaching  of  four  Apostolical  writers  in  the  New  Testament. 
With  excessively  bad  taste,  he  had  represented  them  as 
saying,  “Let  Peter,  Paul,  James,  and  John  say  what  they 
will,  and  let  the  Reformers  and  Martyrs  join  their  syren- 
song,  their  eyes  were  at  best  but  half  opened,  for  want  of  a 
little  Foundery  eye-salve.”  Accordingly,  the  fifth  and  five 
following  sections  of  Fletcher's  book  are  devoted  to  a re- 
futation of  this  scandalous  and  almost  profane  slander.  A 
large  number  of  texts,  from  the  Epistles  of  these  four  inspired 
writers,  are  most  ably  examined  and  explained, — texts 


Age  46.] 


Christian  Perfection. 


323 


incontestably  proving  that  the  doctrine  of  Christian  Per- 
fection was  a doctrine  taught  by ‘‘ Peter,  Paul,  James,  and 
John.” 

In  the  eleventh  section  of  his  book,  Fletcher  triumphantly 
answers  the  objections,  founded  upon  certain  texts  in  the 
writings  of  Solomon,  Isaiah,  and  Job  ; and  in  the  twelfth  he 
adduces  a variety  of  arguments  to  prove  the  absurdity  of 
the  twin  doctrines  of  Christian  Imperfection  and  a Death- 
Purgatory!  In  this,  he  furnishes  a definition  of  Christian 
Perfection  worthy  of  being  quoted,  namely  : — 

Christian  Perfection  is  nothing  but  the  depth  of  evangelical  re- 
pentance, the  full  assurance  of  faith,  and  the  pure  love  of  God  and 
man  shed  abroad  in  a faithful  believer’s  heart,  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
given  unto  him,  to  cleanse  him,  and  to  keep  him  Q\^2o\yfrom  all  filthi- 
ness of  the  flesh  and  Spirit ; and  to  enable  him  to  fulfil  the  law  of 
Christ  according  to  the  talents  he  is  entrusted  with,  and  the  circum- 
stances in  which  he  is  placed  in  this  world.” 

In  the  next  section  (the  thirteenth)  Fletcher  dwells  upon 
‘‘  the  mischievousness  of  the  doctrines  of  Christian  Imperfec- 
tion^ and  a Death  Purgatory!  He  concludes  his  scathing 
arguments  on  this  subject  as  follows  : — 

'‘The  modish  doctrine  of  Christian  imperfection  and  death-purgatory 
is  so  contrived  that  carnal  men  will  always  prefer  the  purgatory  of  the 
Calvinists  to  that  of  the  Papists.  For  the  Papists  prescribe  I know  not 
how  many  cups  of  divine  wrath  and  dire  vengeance,  which  are  to  be 
drunk  by  the  souls  of  believers  who  die  >^<2^-purged,  or  three  parts 
cleansed.  These  half -damned^  or  a quarter -damned  creatures  must 
go  through  a severe  discipline,  and  fiery  salvation  in  the  very  suburbs 
of  hell,  before  they  can  be  perfectly  purified.  But  our  opponents  have 
found  out  a way  to  deliver  half-hearted  believers  out  of  all  fear  in  this 
respect.  Such  believers  need  not  utterly  abolish  the  body  of  sin  in 
this  world.  The  inbred  man  of  sin  not  only  mayy  but  he  sha.ll  liye  as 
long  as  we  do.  You  will  possibly  ask:  ‘ What  is  to  become  of  this 
sinful  guest  ? Shall  he  take  us  to  hell,  or  shall  we  take  him  to  heaven  ? 
If  he  cannot  die  in  this  world,  will  Christ  destroy  him  in  the  next  ? ’ 
No  : here  Christ  is  almost  left  out  of  the  question.  Our  indwelling 
adversary  is  not  to  be  destroyed  by  the  brightness  of  the  Redeemer’s 
spiritual  appearing,  but  by  the  gloom  of  the  appearance  of  death.  The 
king  of  terrors  comes  to  the  assistance  of  Jesus’s  sanctifying  grace,  and 
instantaneously  delivers  the  carnal  believer  from  indwelling  pride,  un- 
belief, covetousness,  peevishness,  uncharitableness,  love  of  the  world, 
and  inordinate  affection.  The  dying  sinner’s  breath  does  the  capital 
work  of  the  Spirit  of  holiness.  By  the  most  astonishing  of  all  miracles, 


324 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1775- 


the  faint,  infectious,  last  gasp  of  a sinful  believer  blows  away,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  great  mountain  of  inward  corruption,  which  all 
the  means  of  grace,  all  the  faith,  prayers,  and  sacraments  of  twenty, 
perhaps  of  forty  years,  were  never  able  to  remove.  If  this  doctrine  is 
true,  how  greatly  was  St.  Paul  mistaken  when  he  said,  ‘ The  sting  of 
death  is  sin.^  Should  he  not  have  said.  Death  is  the  cure  of  sin ^ 
instead  of  saying,  ‘ Sin  is  the  sting  of  death  ’ ? And  should  not  his 
praises  flow  thus, — ‘ Thanks  be  to  God  who  gives  us  the  victory  through 
death ; our  great  and  only  deliverer  from  our  greatest  and  fiercest 
enemy,  indwelling  sin  ' 

The  fourteenth  section  of  Fletcher’s  book  is  employed  in 
answering  the  false  and  pernicious  statements  contained  in 
Toplady’s  “ Caveat  against  Unsound  Doctrine,”  and  Martin 
Madan’s  ‘‘Essay  on  Galatians  v.  17.”  In  the  two  following 
sections,  Fletcher  proves  that  his  doctrine  of  Christian  per- 
fection “ cannot  be  justly  reproached  as  Popish,  and  Pelagian  ; 
and  shows  the  distinction  which  exists  ” between  sins  and 
innocent  mfirmities.  Then  he  concludes  his  invaluable  book 
with  four  Addresses:  i.  “To  perfect  Christian  Pharisees; 

2.  To  prejudiced  Imperfectionists  ; 3.  To  imperfect  Perfec- 
tionists ; and  4.  To  perfect  Christians.”  These  addresses 
will  always  rank  among  the  most  powerful  productions  of 
Fletcher’s  pen  ; but,  for  want  of  space,  only  one  extract 
from  them  can  be  given  here  ; and  even  that  is,  to  a large 
extent,  an  extract  from  Wesley’s  Sermon  on  “ The  Scripture 
Way  of  Salvation.”  It  is,  however,  of  the  highest  import- 
ance, as  containing  an  answer  to  the  question.  How  are  we 
to  be  “sanctified,  saved  from  sin,  and  perfected  in  love.^” 
Fletcher  writes  : — 

I have  already  pointed  out  the  close  connexion  there  is  between  an 
act  of  faith  which  fully  apprehends  the  sanctifying  promise  of  the 
Father,  and  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  which  makes  an  end  of 
moral  corruption  by  forcing  the  lingering  man  of  sin  instantaneously 
to  breathe  out  his  last.  Mr.  Wesley,  in  the  above  quoted  sermon, 
touches  upon  this  delicate  subject  in  so  clear  and  concise  a manner, 
that,  while  his  discourse  is  before  me,  for  the  sake  of  those  who  have  it 
not  in  hand,  I shall  transcribe  the  whole  passage,  and,  by  this  means, 
put  the  seal  of  that  eminent  divine  to  what  I have  advanced,  in  the 
preceding  pages,  about  sanctifying  faith,  and  the  quick  destruction 
of  sin. 

‘ Does  God  work  this  great  work  in  the  soul  gradually  or  instan- 
taneously ? Perhaps  it  may  be  gradually  wrought  in  some,  I mean  in 


Age  46.] 


Christian  Perfection. 


325 


this  sense : They  do  not  advert  to  the  particular  moment,  wherein  sin 
ceases  to  be.  But  it  is  infinitely  desirable,  were  it  the  will  of  God, 
that  it  should  be  done  instantaneously ; that  the  Lord  should  destroy 
sin  by  the  breath  of  His  mouthy  in  a moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye.  And  so  He  generally  does, — a plain  fact,  of  which  there  is  evidence 
enough  to  satisfy  any  unprejudiced  person.  Thou  therefore  look  for  it 
every  moment.  Look  for  it  in  the  way  above  described ; ^ in  all  those 
good  wokSy  whereunto  thou  art  created  anew  in  Christ  Jesus.  There  is 
then  no  danger ; you  can  be  no  worse,  if  you  are  no  better  for  that 
expectation.  For  were  you  to  be  disappointed  of  your  hope,  still  you 
lose  nothing.  But  you  shall  not  be  disappointed  of  your  hope  ; it  will 
come,  and  will  not  tarry.  Look  for  it  then  every  day,  every  hour,  every 
moment.  Why  not  this  hour,  this  moment  ? Certainly  you  may  look 
for  it  noWy  if  you  believe  it  is  by  faith.  And  by  this  token  you  may 
surely  know  whether  you  seek  it  by  faith  or  works.  If  by  works,  you 
want  something  to  be  done  firsts  before  you  are  sanctified.  You  think, 
*■  I must  first  be  or  do  thus  or  thus.’  Then  you  are  seeking  it  by  works 
unto  this  day.  If  you  seek  it  by  faith,,  you  may  expect  it  as  you  are; 
and,  if  as  you  are,  then  expect  it  now.  It  is  of  importance  to  observe 
that  there  is  an  inseparable  connexion  between  these  three  points, 
expect  it  by  faiths  expect  it  as  you  are^  and  expect  it  now.  To  deny 
one  of  them  is  to  deny  them  all ; to  allow  one  is  to  allow  them  all.  Do 
you  believe  we  are  sanctified  by  faith  ? Be  true  then  to  your  principle  ; 
and  look  for  this  blessing  just  as  you  are,  neither  better,  nor  worse  ; 
as  a poor  sinner,  that  has  still  nothing  to  pay,  nothing  to  plead,  but — 
Christ  died.  And  if  you  look  for  it  as  you  are^  then  expect  it  now. 
Stay  for  nothing,  why  should  you  ? Christ  is  ready,  and  He  is  all  you 
want.  He  is  waiting  for  you ; He  is  at  the  door ! Let  your  inmost 
soul  cry  out, — 

‘‘  ‘ Come  in,  come  in.  Thou  heavenly  guest ! 

Nor  hence  again  remove  : 

But  sup  with  me,,  and  let  the  feast 

Be  everlasting  love.’  ” (p».  ^88). 

Well  would  it  be,  for  the  Church  and  the  world,  if  these 


^ After  most  ably  arguing  the  matter,  Wesley,  in  the  sermon  here 
referred  to,  concludes  ‘^that  faith  is  the  only  condition  which  is  imme- 
diately  and  ^roximateiy  necessary  to  sanctification;”  and  that  the 
‘‘faith  whereby  we  are  sanctified — saved  from  sin,  and  perfected  in 
love,  is  a divine  evidence  and  conviction,  first,  that  God  hath  promised 
it  in  the  Holy  Scripture ; secondly,  that  what  God  hath  promised.  He  is 
able  to  perform  ; thirdly,  that  He  is  able  and  willing  to  do  it  now ; and, 
fourthly,  a divine  evidence  and  conviction  that  He  doeth  it.  In  that 
hour,”  continues  Wesley,  “it  is  done ; God  says  to  the  inmost  soul, 
‘According  to  thy  faith,  be  it  unto  thee  !’  Then  the  soul  is  pure  from 
every  spot  of  sin  ; it  is  clean  ‘from  all  unrighteousness.’  The  believer 
then  experiences  the  deep  meaning  of  those  solemn  words,  ‘ If  we  walk 
in  the  light  as  He  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another, 
and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  His  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.’” 


326 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1775- 


views  of  Wesley  and  his  friend  Fletcher  were  held  by  all 
the  Methodists  of  the  present  age,  or  even  by  a thousandth 
part  of  them.  How  often  are  they  preached  in  Methodist 
pulpits  ? Not  so  often  as  they  ought  to  be  ! “ Where 

Christian  perfection  is  not  strongly  and  explicitly  preached,” 
said  Wesley,  ‘^there  is  seldom  any  remarkable  blessing  from 
God  ; and,  consequently,  little  addition  to  the  Society,  and 
little  life  in  the  members  of  it.”  ^ 

The  year  1775  was  to  Fletcher  one  of  the  busiest  in  his 
life.  He  was  steeped  in  controversy  ; but  he  rose  in  piety. 
In  a letter  to  his  friend  Joseph  Benson,  he  wrote  : — 

I have  had  two  printers  at  my  heels,  besides  my  common  business, 
and  this  is  enough  to  make  me  trespass  upon  the  patience  of  my  friends. 
I have  published  the  first  part  of  my  ‘ Scales ^ which  has  gone  through 
a second  edition  in  London,  before  I could  get  the  second  part  printed 
in  Salop,  where  it  will  be  published  in  about  six  weeks.  I have  also 
published  a creed  for  the  Arminians,  where  you  will  see  that,  if  I have 
not  answered  your  critical  remarks  upon  my  Essay  on  Truth,  I have 
improved  by  them,  yea  publicly  recanted  the  two  expressions  you  men- 
tioned as  improper. 

''I  am  so  tied  up  here,  both  by  my  parish  duty  and  controversial 
writings,  that  I cannot  hope  to  see  you  unless  you  come  into  these 
parts. In  the  meantime,  let  us  meet  at  the  throne  of  grace.  In  Jesus, 
time  and  distance  are  lost.  He  is  an  universal,  eternal  life  of  righteous- 
ness, peace,  and  joy.  I am  glad  you  have  some  encouragement  in 
Scotland.  The  Lord  grant  you  more  and  more!  Use  yourself,  how- 
ever, to  go  against  wind  and  tide,  as  I do  ; and  take  care  that  our  wise 
dogmatical  friends  in  the  north  do  not  rob  you  of  your  childlike  sim- 
plicity. Remember  that  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  are 
revealed  to  babes.  You  may  be  afraid  of  being  a fool,  without  being 
afraid  of  being  a babe.  You  may  be  childlike  without  being  childish. 
Simplicity  of  intention  and  purity  of  affection  will  go  through  the  world, 
through  hell  itself.  In  the  meantime,  let  us  see  that  we  do  not  so  look 
at  our  little  publications,  or  to  other  people,  as  to  forget  that  Christ  is 
our  Object,  our  Sun,  our  Shield.  To  His  inspiration,  comfort,  and 
protection,  I earnestly  recommend  your  soul ; and  the  labours  of  your 
heart,  tongue,  and  pen  to  His  blessing.’^ ^ 

At  this  period,  Wesley  was  dangerously  ill  in  Ireland. 


^ Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xii.,  p.  252. 

* Joseph  Benson  was  appointed  to  the  Edinburgh  Circuit  at  the  Con- 
ference of  1774;  and  to  the  Newcastle  Circuit  at  the  Conference  of 

1775- 

* Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  46.] 


Wesley  Dangerously  IlL 


327 


Charles  Wesley  had  no  hope  of  his  brother’s  recovery.  The 
Methodists  throughout  the  kingdom  were  in  consternation. 
In  a letter  to  Joseph  Bradford,  Wesley’s  faithful  companion, 
Charles  Wesley  wrote  : — 

Bristol,  June  29,  1775.  Your  letter  has  cut  off  all  hope  of  my 
brother’s  recovery.  The  people  here,  and  in  London,  and  every  place, 
are  swallowed  up  in  sorrow.  But  sorrow  and  death  will  soon  be  swal- 
lowed up  in  life  everlasting.  You  will  be  careful  of  my  brother’s 
papers,  etc.,  till  you  see  his  executors.  God  shall  reward  your  fidelity 
and  love.  I seem  scarce  separated  from  him  whom  I shall  so  very  soon 
overtake.  We  were  united  in  our  lives,  and  in  our  death  not  divided.”^ 

In  his  deep  distress,  Charles  Wesley  wrote  to  Fletcher, 
who  replied  as  follows  : — 

''Madeley,  July  2,  1775. 

''My  Very  Dear  Brother, — The  same  post  which  brought  me 
yours,  brought  me  a letter  from  Ireland,  informing  me  of  the  danger  of 
your  dear  brother,  my  dear  father,  and  of  his  being  very  happy  in,  and 
resigned  to,  the  will  of  God.  What  can  you  and  I do  ? What,  but 
stand  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of  God  ? The  nations  are  before  Him 
but  as  the  dust  that  cleaves  to  a balance  ; and  the  greatest  instruments 
have  been  removed.  Abraham  is  dead ; the  fathers  are  dead ; and  if 
John  come  first  to  the  sepulchre,  you  and  I will  soon  descend  into  it. 
The  brightest,  the  most  burning  and  shining  lights,  like  the  Baptist, 
Mr.  Whitefield,  and  your  brother,  were  kindled  to  make  the  people 
rejoice  in  them,  'fora  season,’  says  our  Lord.  ' For  a season.’  The 
expression  is  worth  our  notice.  It  is  just  as  if  our  Lord  had  said, 

' I give  you  inferior  lights,  that  ye  may  rejoice  in  them  for  a season. 
But  I reserve  to  myself  the  glory  of  shining  for  ever.  The  most  burning 
lights  shall  fail  on  earth ; but  I,  your  Sun,  will  shine  to  all  eternity.’ 

" Come,  my  dear  brother,  let  the  danger  of  our  lights  make  us  look 
to  our  Sun  more  steadily ; and  should  God  quench  the  light  of  our 
Jerusalem  below,  let  us  rejoice  that  it  is  to  make  it  burn  brighter  in  the 
Jerusalem  which  is  above  ; and  let  us  triumph  in  the  inextinguishable 
light  of  our  Sun,  in  the  impenetrable  strength  of  our  Shield,  and  in  the 
immovableness  of  our  Rock. 

" Amidst  my  concern  for  the  Church  in  general,  and  for  Mr.  Wesley’s 
Societies  in  particular,  I cannot  but  acknowledge  the  goodness  of  God 
in  so  wonderfully  keeping  him  for  so  many  years,  and  in  preserving  him 
to  undergo  such  labours  as  would  have  killed  you  and  me  ten  times  over. 
The  Lord  may  yet  hear  prayer  and  add  a span  to  his  useful  life.  But 
forasmuch  as  the  immortality  of  the  body  does  not  belong  to  this  state, 
and  he  has  fulfilled  the  ordinary  term  of  human  life,  in  hoping  the  best. 


Tyerman’s  "Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  vol.  iii.,  p.  204. 


328 


Wesky's  Designated  Successor. 


[I77S- 


we  must  prepare  ourselves  for  the  worst.  The  God  of  all  grace  and 
power  will  strengthen  you  on  the||)Ccasion. 

Should  your  brother  fail  on  earth,  you  are  called  not  only  to  bear  up 
under  the  loss  of  so  near  a relative,  but,  for  the  sake  of  your  common 
children  in  the  Lord,  you  should  endeavour  to  fill  up  the  gap  according 
to  your  strength.  The  Methodists  will  not  expect  from  you  your  brother’s 
labours ; but  they  have,  I think,  a right  to  expect  that  you  will  preside 
over  them  while  God  spares  you  in  the  land  of  the  living.  A committee 
of  the  oldest  and  steadiest  preachers  may  help  you  to  bear  the  burden 
and  to  keep  up  a proper  discipline  both  among  the  people  and  the  rest 
of  the  preachers  ; and  if  at  any  time  you  should  want  my  mite  of  assist- 
ance, I hope  I shall  throw  it  into  the  treasury  with  the  simplicity  and 
readiness  of  the  poor  widow,  who  cheerfully  offered  her  next  to  nothing. 
Do  not  faint.  The  Lord  God  of  Israel  will  give  you  additional  strength 
for  the  day  ; and  His  angels,  yea.  His  praying  people,  will  bear  you  up 
in  their  hands,  that  you  hurt  not  your  foot  against  a stone  ; yea,  that  if 
need  be,  you  may  leap  over  a wall. 

“ I am  by  this  time  grey-headed  as  well  as  you,  and  some  of  my  par- 
ishioners tell  me  that  the  inroads  of  time  are  uncommonly  visible  upon 
my  face.  Indeed,  I feel  as  well  as  see  it  myself,  and  learn  what  only 
time,  trials,  and  experience  can  teach.  Should  your  brother  be  called 
to'  his  reward,  I would  not  be  free  to  go  to  London  till  you  and  the 
preachers  had  settled  all  matters.  My  going  just  at  such  a time  ” [as 
this]  would  carry  the  appearance  of  vanity,  which  I abhor.  It  would 
seem  as  if  I wanted  to  be  somebody  among  the  Methodists. 

“We  here  heartily  join  the  prayers  of  the  brethren  for  your  brother, 
for  you,  and  the  Societies.  Paper  fails,  not  love.  Be  careful  for  nothing. 
Cast  your  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  He  will  sustain  you.  Farewell  in 
Christ.^’  ' 

Two  and  a half  years  before  this  dangerous  illness,  Wesley 
had  requested  Fletcher  to  be  his  successor  in  presiding  over 
the  Methodists.  Perhaps  Charles  Wesley  was  aware  of  this. 
At  all  events,  he  appears  to  have  wished  Fletcher  to  come  to 
London  in  the  great  crisis  which  had  now  occurred.  Fletcher 
modestly  declined  ; and,  fortunately  for  both,  no  successor 
of  Wesley  was  needed  until  several  years  after  both  were 
dead. 

Fletcher's  ‘‘  Checks  to  Antinomianism  ” were  ended.  For 
four  years,  he  had  taxed  his  energies  to  the  utmost  ; but  the 
work  he  undertook  in  1771  was  now  nearly  concluded.  The 
doctrines  of  Wesley's  ‘‘Minutes"  had  been  carefully  explained, 
minutely  defended,  and  lovingly  enforced. 


Jackson’s  “ Life  of  C.  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  302. 


Age  46.] 


Checks  to  Antinoniianism'*''  finishecl,  329 


In  his  ‘ Checks  to  Antinomianism/  ” wrote  Wesley,  ‘‘  one  knows 
not  which  to  admire  most — the  purity  of  the  language,  the  strength 
and  clearness  of  the  argument,  or  the  mildness  and  sweetness  of  the 
spirit  that  breathes  throughout  the  whole.  Insomuch  that  I nothing 
wonder  at  a serious  clergyman,  who  being  resolved  to  live  and  die  in 
his  own  opinion,  when  he  was  pressed  to  read  them  replied,  ‘ No,  I will 
never  read  Mr.  Fletcher’s  “ Checks,”  for  if  I did,  I should  be  of  his 
mind.’  ” ^ 

Of  course,  contrary  opinions  have  been  expressed.  The 
author  of  ‘‘  The  Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Hunt- 
ingdon ” tells  his  readers  that, — 

Fletcher  dazzled  with  eloquence  instead  of  reasoning,  and  sub- 
stituted tropes  for  arguments.  He  was  too  loquacious  for  a deep 
reasoner,  and  too  impassioned  to  investigate  duly  the  most  profound 
and  awful  themes  which  can  occupy  the  human  understanding.” 

Isaac  Taylor,  also,  in  his  “ Wesley  and  Methodism,'’  takes 
the  same  position.  He  acknowledges  that, — 

‘‘  In  a genuine  sense,  Fletcher  was  a saint ; a saint  such  as  the  Church 
of  every  age  has  produced  a few  samples.  Sanctity  and  purity  of  manners 
were  his  distinctive  characteristics.  He  was  as  unearthly  a being  as 
could  tread  the  earth  at  all;  and  his  Methodism  was  Christianity  as  little 
lowered  by  admixture  of  human  infirmity  as  we  may  hope  to  find  it  any- 
where on  earth . ” But  while  “ as  a theologian  he  possessed  acquaintance 
enough  with  doctrinal  literature  and  with  the  Scriptures  to  give  him 
always  a point  or  two  of  advantage  in  relation  to  his  antagonists,  he 
was  no  such  reasoner,  he  was  no  such  master  of  Biblical  criticism, 
as  might  have  made  it  possible  for  him  to  overstep  the  limits  of  his 
appointed  task,  or,  as  a theological  writer,  to  survive  his  day.”  ^ 

The  first  of  these  critics  was  too  much  of  a Calvinist  to 
do  justice  to  Fletcher,  an  Arminian  ; and  it  is  not  rash  to 
say  respecting  the  second,  that  it  is  extremely  doubtful 
whether  he  had  carefully  perused  the  writings  he  condemns. 
At  all  events,  his  assertion  that  “ as  a theological  writer  ” 
Fletcher  did  not  “survive  his  day,”  is  utterly  untrue.  Fletcher’s 
“ Checks  ” are  as  much  read  to-day  as  they  were  a hundred 
years  ago.  The  demand  for  them  increases  almost  every 


^ Wesley’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

Robert  Southey  wrote,  Mr.  Fletcher’s  manner  is  diffuse,  and  the 
florid  parts  and  the  unction  betray  their  French  origin  ; but  the  reason- 
ing is  acute  and  clear,  the  spirit  of  his  writings-  is  beautiful,,  and  he  was 
a master  of  the  subject  in  all  its  bearings.” 


330 


Wesley* s Designated  Successor. 


[1775* 


year,  both  in  England  and  in  America  ; and  they  are  found 
in  every  land  where  Methodism  has  been  founded.  At  the 
time  when  they  were  first  published,  they  occasioned  exas- 
peration among  the  Calvinian  Methodists,  but  that  was  not 
the  fault  of  their  distinguished  author.  What  was  called 
bitterness ''  in  Fletcher  was  not  bitterness  of  temper,  but 
‘‘  of  unwelcome  doctrine,  set  forth  with  all  the  advantages  of 
language,  confidence,  and  argument.”  Soon  after  they  were 
completed,  a Dissenting  minister  at  Bristol  called  upon 
Fletcher,  when,  to  all  human  appearance,  he  was  dying,  and 
rudely  said,  “ You  had  better  have  been  confined  to  your 
bed  by  palsy  than  have  written  so  many  bitter  things  against 
the  dear  children  of  God.”  “My  brother,”  replied  the  invalid, 
“ I hope  I have  not  been  bitter.  Certainly  I did  not  mean 
to  be  so  ; but  I wanted  more  love  then,  and  I feel  I want 
more  now.”^  Fletcher’s  soft  answer  silenced  his  sour  assailant, 
and  sent  him  away,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  a wiser  and  better  man. 

It  is  a pleasant  fact  to  put  on  record  that  Fletcher  and 
his  opponents  in  the  Calvinian  controversy  lived  long  enough 
to  be  affectionately  reconciled  to  each  other.  Shirley,  the 
first  in  the  field,  had,  at  least,  one  brotherly  interview  with 
Fletcher,  in  Ireland.^  In  the  Methodist  Museum  at  the 
Centenary  Hall,  London,  there  is  an  unpublished  letter,  which 
Mr.  Richard  Hill  wrote  to  Fletcher  in  1784,  full  of  Christian 
affection.  Rowland  Hill,  with  admirable  candour,  said  of 
his  own  writings,  “ A softer  style  and  spirit  would  better 
have  become  me  ; ” and  he  also  suppressed  the  sale  of  one 
of  his  severest  publications.^  Then  as  it  respects  dear  old 
Berridge  at  Everton,  it  will  be  seen,  in  a succeeding  chapter, 
that  he  and  Fletcher  were  more  than  reconciled  to  each  other. 
Their  meeting  at  Everton,  in  the  month  of  December,  1776, 
is  one  of  the  most  charming  incidents  recorded  in  Methodistic 
annals. 

Another  name  must  be  introduced.  Dr.  Thomas  Coke 
was  now  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He  had  taken  his 
degrees  at  Oxford,  had  received  episcopal  ordination,  and 
was  now  curate  at  South  Petherton.  As  yet,  he  had  not 

* Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine i 1823,  p.  107. 

^ Stevens’s  History  of  Methodism.” 

^ Sidney’s  *^Life  of  Rev.  Rowland  Hill.” 


Age  46. 


Dr,  Thomas  Coke, 


331  * 


been  introduced  to  Wesley  ; but  he  had  read  his  sermons 
and  journals,  and  also  the  ‘‘  Checks  ” of  Fletcher, — all  kindly 
lent  to  him  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  a clergyman  residing  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Taunton.  A year  elapsed  before 
Wesley  met  him,  but  in  the  meantime,  the  young  curate 
wrote  the  following  letter^  to  Fletcher  ; — 

''South  Petherton,  near  Crewkerne,  Somerset, 
August  2^,  1775* 

"Rev.  Sir, — I take  the  liberty,  though  unknown  to  you,  but  not 
unacquainted  with  your  admirable  publications,  of  writing  you  a letter 
of  sincerest  thanks  for  the  spiritual  instruction,  as  well  as  entertainment, 
they  have  afforded  me  ; and  for  the  spirit  of  candour  and  Christian 
charity  which  breathes  throughout  your  writings.  The  charming  cha- 
racter which  my  best  of  earthly  friends  (the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  of  Kingston, 
near  Taunton),  has  given  me  of  you,  emboldens  me  to  hope  that,  though 
my  situation  in  life  be  only  that  of  a poor  curate  of  a parish,  you  will 
excuse  this  liberty  I have  taken  of  addressing  you  in  the  fulness  of  my 
heart. 

"You  are  indubitably,  Sir,  a sincere  friend  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ.  I also  am  an  humble  admirer  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  and  it  is  on 
that  foundation  only  I would  wish,  and  it  is  on  that  only  I am  sure  I 
can  recommend  myself  to  you. 

"Your  excellent ' Checks  to  Antinomianism  ’ have  riveted  me  in  an 
abhorrence  and  detestation  of  the  peculiar  tenets  of  Calvin,  and  the 
monstrous  errors  into  which  those  great  and  good  men,  Bishops  Hopkins 
and  Beveridge,  have  run,  have  frequently  filled  me  with  wonder. 

"Your  ' Essay  on  Truth  ’ has  been  more  particularly  blessed  to  me. 
Your  'Scripture  Scales’  I am  just  going  to  read  with  great  attention. 
Many  thanks  to  you  for  your  treatise  on  the  ' Fallen  State  of  Man.’  It 
has  been  of  service  to  me,  and  of  much  more,  I have  reason  to  think,  to 
many  of  my  congregation. 

" O,  Sir,  I have  frequently  prayed  to  my  God  that  He  will  make  you 
a great  pillar  of  His  Church.  In  return,  I do  humbly  beg  that  you  will 
pray  for  me.  I am  sure  you  will  grant  me  the  favour  when  I inform  you 
that  (as  nearly  as  I can  guess)  a thousand  or  more  immortal  souls  come 
to  me  on  every  Lord’s  Day,  in  the  afternoon,  to  receive  their  portion  of 
the  manna  of  the  Word,  the  bread  of  everlasting  life. 

" I will  so  far  transgress  against  the  public  and  your  dear  flock  as  to 
request  an  answer.  I am  almost  afraid  to  hope  for  more.  May  the  God 
who  loves  you,  and  whom  you  love,  make  you  a great  instrument  of  His 
glory  in  this  life,  and  grant  you  the  height  of  your  ambition  in  the  next. 

"I  am.  Rev.  Sir,  with  great  respect,  your  much  obliged  and  very 
humble  servant, 

"Thomas  Coke.” 

’ The  letter  is  copied,  verbatim,  from  the  original,  in  the  Wesleyan 
Mis‘^ion  House  collection,  Bishopsgate  Street,  London, 


332 


TVes/ey's  Designated  Successor, 


[1775- 


Little,  at  this  time,  did  the  obscure  Dr.  Coke  imagine 
that,  eight  years  afterwards,  Fletcher  would  be  one  of  the 
first  twenty-six  subscribers  to  the  Methodist  “ Society  for 
the  Establishment  of  Missions  among  the  Heathen,''  which 
Coke  and  a few  of  his  friends  then  instituted. 

One  more  fact  respecting  the  ‘'Checks  to  Antinomianism  " 
must  be  added.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Jackson,  a good  authority, 
remarks  : — 

Mr.  Charles  Wesley  took  a lively  interest  in  the  rise  and  progress 
of  this  ’’  [the  Calvinian]  controversy,  though  his  name  has  rarely  been 
connected  with  it.  He  corresponded  with  his  friend,  the  Vicar  of  Madeley, 
and  encouraged  him  in  his  arduous  undertaking.  Mr.  Fletcher  trans- 
mitted his  manuscripts  to  him  for  revision,  begging  of  him  to  expunge 
every  expression  that  was  calculated  to  give  unnecessary  pain,  and  to 
pay  especial  attention  to  the  grammar  and  theology  of  the  whole.  He 
also  confided  to  Mr.  Charles  Wesley  the  task  of  conducting  them 
through  the  press,  the  correction  of  which  was  inconvenient  to  himself, 
because  of  his  distance  from  London.  The  fact  is,  that  nearly  every- 
thing that  Mr.  Fletcher  published,  not  even  excepting  his  political 
tracts  and  his  treatise  on  original  sin,  passed  under  the  eye  and  hand 
of  Mr.  Charles  Wesley  before  it  was  given  to  the  warld.  Not  that  the 
compositions  of  his  friend  needed  much  emendation,  but  his  criticisms 
gave  Mr.  Fletcher  confidence,  and  were  highly  valued.  In  1775,  Mr. 
Fletcher  said  to  him,  ‘ Nobody  helps  me  but  you  ; and  you  know  how 
little  you  do  it.  Deprive  me  not  of  that  little.  Your  every  hint  is  a 
blessing  to  me.’  ” ^ 

A letter  to  Charles  Wesley  will  fitly  close  the  present 
chapter. 


‘‘  Madeley,  December  4,  1775. 

My  Very  Dear  Brother, — I see  the  end  of  my  controversial  race, 
and  I have  such  courage  to  finish  it,  that  I think  it  my  bounden  duty  to 
run  and  strike  my  blow,  and  fire  my  gun,  before  the  water  of  discourage- 
ment has  quite  wetted  the  powder  of  my  activity.  This  makes  me  seem 
to  neglect  my  dearest  correspondents. 

Old  age  comes  faster  upon  me  than  upon  you.  I am  already  so 
grey-headed,  that  I wrote  to  my  brother  to  know  if  I am  not  fifty-six 
instead  of  forty-six.  The  wheel  of  time  moves  so  rapidly,  that  I seem 
to  be  in  a new  element ; and  yet,  praised  be  God  ! my  strength  is  pre- 
served far  better  than  I could  expect.  I came  home  last  night  at  eleven 
o’clock  tolerably  well,  after  reading  prayers  and  preaching  twice  and 


Jackson’s  ''Life  of  C.  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  294. 


Age  46.] 


Letter  to  Charles  Wesley. 


333 


giving  the  sacrament  in  my  own  church,  and  preaching  again  and 
meeting  a few  people  in  Society  at  the  next  market-town. 

“The  Lord  is  wonderfully  gracious  to  me,  and,  what  is  more  to  me 
than  many  favours.  He  helps  me  to  see  His  mercies  in  a clearer  light. 
In  years  past,  I did  not  dare  to  be  thankful  for  mercies,  which  now  make 
me  shout  for  joy . I had  been  taught  to  call  them  common  mercies, 
and  I made  as  little  of  them  as  apostates  do  of  the  blood  of  Christ,  when 
they  call  it  a common  thing.  But  now  the  veil  begins  to  rend,  and  I 
invite  you  and  all  the  world  to  praise  God  for  His  patience,  truth,  and 
lovingkindness,  which  have  followed  me  all  my  days.'  O how  I hate 
the  delusion,  which  has  robbed  me  of  so  many  comforts  ! 

“ Farewell ! I am,  etc., 

“J.  Fletcher.'” 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  226. 


334 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
PUBLICATIONS  IN  THE  YEAR 
1776. 

Except  his  posthumous  works,  the  remainder  of 
Fletcher’s  writings  were  issued  during  the  next  two 
years,  1776  and  1777.  These  will  be  briefly  noticed  in  the 
present  chapter.  During  the  last  four  years,  his  antagonists 
had  been  Walter  Shirley,  Richard  Hill,  Rowland  Hill,  and 
John  Berridge.  Now  he  encountered  three  others — Augustus 
Montague  Toplady,  the  well-known  Vicar  of  Broad  Hembury, 
in  Devonshire  ; Caleb  Evans,  an  eminent  Baptist  minister 
at  Bristol  ; and,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Evans,  the  celebrated 
Rev.  Richard  Price,  D.D.,  an  Arian  minister,  at  Hackney, 
London. 

Methodist  readers  are  so  familiar  with  the  life  and  character 
of  Toplady,  as  to  render  it  unnecessary  to  refer  to  them  in 
the  present  pages.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  this  remarkable 
and  strangely  constituted  man  seems  to  have  been  almost  as 
much  prejudiced  against  Fletcher  as  he  was  against  Wesley. 
“ I was  lately  asked,”  said  he,  “ what  my  opinion  is  of 
Mr.  John  Fletcher’s  writings.  My  answer  was,  that,  in  the 
very  few  pages  I had  perused,  the  serious  passages  were 
dulness  double  condensed  ; and  the  lighter  passages,  impu- 
dence double  distilled.”^ 

In  I 770,  Wesley  published  his  tract,  entitled,  '‘The  Doctrine 
of  Absolute  Predestination  Stated  and  Asserted.”  This  was 
a faithful  abridgment  of  Toplady’s  translation  of  Zanchius’s 
once  famous  book,^  and  concluded  with  the  well-known 
paragraph  : — 

^ Toplady’s  ‘^Posthumous  Works,”  1780,  p.  234. 

^ Toplady’s  Translation  was  published  at  the  end  of  the  year  1769. 


Age  46.] 


Toplady. 


335 


‘‘The  sum  of  all  is  this;  one  in  twenty  (suppose)  of  mankind  are 
elected ; nineteen  in  twenty  are  reprobated.  The  elect  shall  be  saved? 
do  what  they  will ; the  reprobate  shall  be  damned,  do  what  they  can. 
Reader,  believe  this,  or  be  damned.  Witness  my  hand, 

“A T 

Toplady  was  terribly  enraged,  and  immediately  published 
“A  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Wesley  : relative  to  his 
pretended  Abridgment  of  Zanchius  on  Predestination.’'  In 
1771,  Wesley  replied  to  this,  in  his  tract  entitled,  ‘‘The 
Consequence  Proved," — the  object  of  which  was  to  establish 
the  paragraph  which  had  occasioned  Toplady  such  huge 
offence.  A year  later,  Toplady  published  his  “ More  Work 
for  Mr.  John  Wesley  ; or,  A Vindication  of  the  Decrees  and 
Providence  of  God  from  the  Defamation  of  a late  printed 
paper,  entitled,  ‘ The  Consequence  Proved.' " Wesley  had 
no  time  and  no  inclination  to  continue  the  controversy  ; 
but  handed  over  the  angry  Vicar  of  Broad  Hembury  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  Thomas  Olivers  and  Fletcher.  Olivers' 
tart  pamphlet  need  not  be  further  mentioned  ; but,  in  refer- 
ence to  Fletcher,  it  may  be  added,  that,  in  a letter  to  Mr, 
Richard  Hill,  dated  “March  12,  1773/’  Toplady  wrote  : — 

“l  am  told  that  Mr.  Fletcher  has  it  in  contemplation  to  make  an 
attack  on  me  too.  He  is  welcome.  I am  ready  for  him.  Nor  shall 
I,  in  that  case,  altogether  imitate  the  examples  of  yourself  and  your 
brother ; unless  Mr.  Fletcher  should  treat  me  with  more  decency  than 
he  has,  hitherto,  observed  towards  others.  Tenderness,  ’tis  very  evident, 
has  no  effect  on  Mr.  Wesley  and  his  pretendedyi2/?^/^  of  love.  Witness 
the  rancour  with  which  Mr.  Hervey’s^  memory  and  works  are  treated 
by  that  lovely  family.  For  my  own  part,  I shall  never  attempt  to  hew 
such  millstones  with  a feather.  They  must  be  served  as  nettles  ; press 
them  close,  and  they  cannot  sting.  Yet  have  they  my  prayers  and  my 
best  wishes  for  their  present  and  future  salvation.  But  not  one  hair’s 
breadth  of  the  Gospel*  will  I ever  offer  at  their  shrine,  or  sacrifice  to 
their  idol.”^ 

Toplady's  information  that  Fletcher  intended  to  “attack" 
him  was  quite  correct  ; but,  for  the  present,  Fletcher  was 
so  occupied  with  his  “Checks  to  Antinomianism,"  that  two 
years  elapsed  before  he  could  devote  attention  to  his  new 
antagonist. 


The  well-known  Rev.  James  Hervey. 

Toplady’s  “ Posthumous  Works,”  1780,  p.  343. 


336 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


Toplady  had  no  need  to  tell  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  in  1773, 
that,  in  any  future  replies  he  might  make  to  the  attacks  of 
Wesley,  Fletcher,  or  their  friends,  he  would  not  be  sparing 
in  the  language  that  he  used  ; for,  in  his  Letter’'  to  Wesley 
in  1770,  and  his  ''  More  Work  for  Wesley”  in  1772,  he  had 
employed  abuse  which  is,  perhaps,  unparalleled  in  religious 
literature,  and  for  which  it  is  difficult  to  account.  Wesley 
was  charged,  by  this  young  man  of  thirty  years,  with  using 
“ all  the  sophistry  of  a Jesuit,  and  the  dictatorial  authority 
of  a pope.”  He  had  descended  to  his  customary  resource 
of  false  quotations,  despicable  invective,  and  unsupported 
dogmatisms.”  His  ‘‘phraseology”  was  “as  pregnant  with 
craft  as  his  conduct”  was  “ destitute  of  honour.”  “ By  his 
deep-laid,  but  soon  detected,  cunning, — by  his  avowed  vacuity 
of  candour,  truth,  and  shame,  he  has,  in  the  general  estimation 
of  all  unprejudiced  people,  gotten  a wound  and  dishonour 
and  reproach  which  all  his  whining  and  winding  sophistry 
will  never  be  able  to  wipe  away.”  “ Perversion  and  falsifica- 
tion are  essential  figures  in  this  man’s  rhetoric.”  “ Unless 
God  give  Mr.  Wesley  repentance  to  the  acknowledging  of 
the  truth,  the  unparalleled  perverseness  with  which  he 
labours  to  blacken  some  doctrines  of  Christianity  will  be 
the  burden  of  his  soul  in  the  hour  of  death  and  in  the 
day  of  judgment.” 

These  are  really  mild — very  mild — specimens  of  Toplady ’s 
unaccountable  abuse  of  Wesley.  How  the  same  man  could 
write,  “ Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me,”  and  other  hymns  quite 
as  exquisite,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive. 

Fletcher’s  long-expected  reply  was  published  in  1776, 
with  the  following  title-page,  “ An  Answer  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Toplady’s  ‘Vindication  of  the  Decrees,’  etc.  By  the  Author 
of  the  Checks.  London:  Printed  in  the  year  1776.” 

i2mo,  133  pp. 

Fletcher  disposes  of  Toplady’s  abusive  language  in  his 
“ Introduction.”  He  writes  : — 

If  Mr.  Toplady,  in  his  controversial  heat,  has  forgotten  what  he 
owed  to  Mr.  Wesley  and  to  himself,  this  is  no  reason  why  I should 
forget  the  title  of  my  book,  which  calls  me  to  point  out  the  bad  argu- 
ments of  our  opponents,  and  not  their  ill  humour.  If  I absurdly  spent 
my  time  in  passing  a censure  upon  Mr.  Toplady^  s spirit,  he  would,  with 


Age  46.] 


Fletcher  answers  Toplady. 


337 


reason,  say,  as  he  does  in  the  introduction  to  his  ‘ Historical  Proof,’ ^ 
P3.ge  35,  ^ What  has  my  pride  or  my  humility  to  do  with  the  argument 
in  hand  ? Whether  I am  haughty  or  meek,  is  of  no  more  consequence 
either  to  that,  or  to  the  public,  than  whether  I am  tall  or  short.’  Besides, 
having,  again  and  again,  myself  requested  our  opponents  not  to  wiredraw 
the  controversy  by  personal  reflections,  but  to  weigh  with  candour  the 
arguments  which  are  offered,  I should  be  inexcusable  if  I did  not  set 
them  the  example.  Should  it  be  said  that  Mr.  Wesley’s  character, 
which  Mr.  Toplady  has  so  severely  attacked,  is  at  stake,  and  that  I 
ought  purposely  to  stand  up  in  his  defence  ; I reply,  that  the  personal 
charges  which  Mr.  Toplady  interweaves  with  his  arguments  have  been 
already  fully  answered  by  Mr.  Olivers  ; and  that  these  charges  being 
chiefly  founded  upon  Mr.  Toplady’ s logical  mistakes,  they  will,  of  their 
own  accord,  fall  to  the  ground,  as  soon  as  the  mistakes  on  which  they 
rest  shall  be  exposed.  May  the  God  of  truth  and  love  grant,  that,  if 
Mr.  Toplady  has  the  honour  of  producing  the  best  arguments,  1,  for  one, 
may  have  the  advantage  of  yielding  to  them  ! To  be  conquered  by  truth 
and  love,  is  to  prove  conqueror  over  our  two  greatest  enemies, — error 
and  sin.” 

What  a contrast  between  Fletcher  and  Toplady  ! Both 
were  men  of  genius  ; both  were  scholars  ; both  were  clergy- 
men of  the  Church  of  England  ; both  were  polemics  ; but 
one  was  meek  in  heart — the  other  just  the  opposite  ; one 
was  a gentleman — the  other,  notwithstanding  his  ability  and 
eloquence,  was  a traducer. 

As  already  stated,  the  short  paragraph  which  Wesley 
appended  to  his  abridgment  of  Toplady's  translation  of 
Zanchius’s  Doctrine  of  Absolute  Predestination  Stated  and 
Asserted'’  infuriated  the  Vicar  of  Broad  Hembury  to  an 
almost  incredible  degree.  Toplady  employed,  what  Fletcher 
calls,  seventy-three  “ ai^gumentsP  but  which  might  more  cor- 
rectly be  called  dog^natisms^  in  replying  to  Wesley’s  exposure 
of  Calvinian  predestination.  Fletcher,  in  Answer^  deals 
with  these,  one  by  one,  seriatim.  Toplady  was  overmatched, 
and  his  “arguments”  were  shown  to  be  fallacies.  Through- 
out his  able  book,  Fletcher  never  loses  his  temper,  and 
never  indulges  in  vituperation.  The  strongest  language  he 
uses  is  found  in  his  concluding  paragraphs,  as  follows  : — 


* Toplady’s  ‘^Historic  Proof  of  the  Doctrinal  Calvinism  of  the  Church 
of  England ; ” published,  in  two  volumes,  in  1774. 

2 In  “A  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady,  occasioned  by  his  late 
Letter  to  Mr.  Wesley.  By  Thomas  Olivers,  1771.”  i2mo,  60  pp. 


22 


338 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


I humbly  hope  that  I have,  in  the  preceding  pages,  contended  for 
the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  honour  of  God’s  perfections.  My  con- 
science bears  me  witness,  that  I have  endeavoured  to  do  it  with  the 
sincerity  of  a candid  inquirer  after  truth ; and  that  I have  not,  knowingly , 
leaped  over  one  material  difficulty  which  Mr.  Toplady  has  thrown  in 
the  way  of  the  laborious  divine  whose  evangelical  principles  I vindicate. 
And  now,  judicious  reader,  if  I have  done  my  part  as  a detecter  of  the 
fallacies  by  which  the  modern  doctrines  of  grace  are  ^ kept  upon  their 
legs,’  let  me  prevail  upon  thee  to  do  thy  part  as  a judge,  and  to  say  if 
the  right  leg  of  Calvinism,  that  is,  the  lawless  election  of  an  unscriptural 
grace,  so  draws  thy  admiration  as  to  make  thee  overlook  the  deformity 
of  the  left  leg,  that  is,  the  absurd,  unholy,  sin-ensuring,  hell-procuring, 
merciless,  and  unjust  reprobation  which  Mr.  Toplady  has  attempted  to 
vindicate.  Shall  thy  reason,  thy  conscience,  thy  feelings,  thy  Bible, 
and,  what  is  more  than  this,  shall  all  the  perfections  of  thy  God,  and 
the  veracity  of  thy  Saviour,  be  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  a reprobation 
wffiich  none  of  the  prophets,  apostles,  and  early  fathers  ever  heard  of? — 
a barbarous  reprobation  which  heated  Augustine  drew  from  the  horrible 
error  of  Manichean  necessity,  and  clothed  with  some  Scripture  expressions 
detached  from  the  context,  and  wrested  from  their  original  meaning  ? — 
a Pharisaic  reprobation,  which  the  Church  of  Rome  took  from  him,  and 
which  some  of  our  reformers  unhappily  brought  from  that  corrupted 
Society  into  the  Protestant  Churches  ? — in  a word,  a reprobation  which 
disgraces  Christianity,  when  that  holy  religion  is  considered  as  a system 
of  evangelical  doctrine,  as  much  as  our  most  enormous  crimes  disgrace 
it,  when  it  is  considered  as  a system  of  pure  morality  ? Shall  such  a 
reprobation,  I say,  find  a place  in  thy  creed  ? yea,  among  thy  doctrines 
of  grace  ? God  forbid  ! 

I hope  better  things  of  thy  candour,  good  sense,  and  piet3^  If 
prejudice,  human  authority,  and  voluntary  humility,  seduce  many  good 
men  into  a profound  reverence  for  that  stupendous  dogma,  be  not  carried 
away  by  their  number,  or  biassed  by  their  shouts.  Be  not  afraid  to  ‘ be 
pilloried  in  a preface,  flogged  at  a pamphlet’s  tail,’  and  treated  as  a 
knave,  a felon,  or  a blasphemer  through  the  whole  of  the  next  vindication 
of  the  deified^  decrees,  which  are  commonly  called  ' Calvinism.’  This 
may  be  thy  lot,  if  thou  darest  to  bear  thy  plain  testimony  against  the 
Antinomian  idol  of  the  day.” 

Fletcher’s  conflict  with  Toplady  was  continued.  Hence 
the  following  ‘‘  Advertisement,”  affixed  to  the  first  edition  of 
the  book  just  dismissed  : — 

Since  these  sheets  have  been  prepared  for  the  press,  I have  seen  a 
new  performance  of  Mr.  Toplady,  in  defence  of  the  doctrine  which  is 
exposed  in  the  preceding  pages.  As  there  are,  in  that  piece,  some  new 


^ Mr.  Toplady  calls  them  ^ the  decrees  of  God  ; ’ and  it  is  an  axiom 
among  the  Calvinists,  that  ‘ God’s  decrees  are  God  Himself.’  ” 


Age  46.] 


Toplady  again  Attacks  Wesley. 


339 


arguments,  the  plausibility  of  which  may  puzzle  many  readers  ; and  as 
I think  it  my  duty  fully  to  vindicate  the  truth,  and  completely  to  detect 
error ; I design  to  answer  that  book  also,  in  a little  tract,  which  will  be 
a supplement  to  this,  and  which  will  proba!bly  see  the  light  under  the 
following  title,  ' A Reply  to  the  Principal  Arguments  by  which  the 
Calvinists  and  the  Fatalists  Support  the  Spreading  Doctrine  oi  Absolute 
Necessity,  In  some  Remarks  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady’s  ‘Scheme  of 
Philosophical  Necessity.’” 

To  understand  this,  it  must  be  stated,  that,  in  1774, 
Wesley  published  a 12 mo  pamphlet  of  33  pages,  entitled, 
“ Thoughts  upon  Necessity.''  This  was  one  of  Wesley's 
ablest  publications,  and,  to  use  Wesley's  own  words,  in  his 
address  ‘‘  to  the  Reader,"  it  was  meant  to  rebut  the  teaching 
of  an  “ Essay  on  Liberty  and  Necessity,"^  which  he  had 
lately  read.  ‘‘  I would  fain,"  says  he,  “ place  mankind  in  a 
fairer  point  of  view  than  that  writer"  (the  author)  ‘‘has  done: 
as  I cannot  believe  the  noblest  creature  in  the  visible  world 
to  be  only  a fine  piece  of  clock-work."  Toplady  was  not 
once  mentioned  in  Wesley's  tract ; but  he  immediately  set 
to  work  to  answer  it,  and,  in  the  following  year,  his  strange 
production  was  issued  with  the  following  title  : “The  Scheme 
of  Christian  and  Philosophical  Necessity  Asserted.  In  Oppo- 
sition to  Mr.  John  Wesley's  Tract  on  that  Subject.  With  a 
Dissertation  concerning  the  Sensible  Qualitys  of  Matter  : 
and  the  Doctrine  of  Color  in  particular.  By  Augustus 
Toplady,  Vicar  of  Broad  Hembury.  London,  1775."  8vo, 
216  pp. 

Wesley,  as  already  stated,  had  not  even  named  Toplady 
in  his  publication,  much  less  abused  him ; but  the  opportunity 
of  again  reviling  Wesley  was  too  tempting  to  be  neglected. 
In  his  preface,  he  gives  an  extract  from  a letter,  written  by 
a London  clergyman,  who  had  sent  him  Wesley's  tract : — 

“ I went  last  night  to  the  Foundery,  expecting  to  hear  Pope  John  ; 
but  was  disappointed.  After  hearing  a Welshman,^  for  an  hour  and 
twenty  minutes,  on  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  ii,  preach  up  all  the  heresies  [sic)  of 
the  place,  a man,  who  sat  in  the  pulpit,  told  him  to  ‘ Give  over : ’ for 
he  seemed  to  bid  fair  for  another  half  hour,  at  least.  But  he  came  to 
a conclusion,  as  desired.  Then  this  man,  who  seemed  to  be  a local 


^ This  Essay  had  been  published,  in  Edinburgh,  some  years  before. 
2 Query  ? Thomas  Olivers,  corrector  of  the  press  for  Wesley. 


340 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


preacher/  stood  up  with  a pamphlet  in  his  hand,  and  addressed  the 
auditory  in  the  following  manner : — 

^ I am  desired  to  publish  a pamphlet  upon  JVecesszYy  and  J^ree-  Willy 
— the  best  1 know  of  in  the  English  tongue, — by  Mr,  John  Wesley y 
price  three^pence,  I had  purposed  to  say  a good  deal  upon  it ; but  the 
time  is  elapsed.  But,  in  this  threepenny  pamphlet,  you  have  all  the 
disputes  that  have  been  bandy’ d about  so  lately  ; and  you  will  get  your 
minds  more  established  by  this  threepenny  pamphlet,  than  by  reading 
all  the  books  that  have  been  written  for  and  against.  It  is  to  be  had 
at  both  doors,  as  you  go  out.’  ” 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  this  narration  is  true  ; for,  in  those 
days,  Methodist  preachers  preached  long  sermons,  and,  from 
the  pulpit,  recommended  the  people  to  purchase  Methodist 
publications.  Toplady  takes  occasion  to  call  the  occurrence 
''  a droll  sort  of  mountebank  scene,’'  and  pretends  to  bewail 
the  unreasonable  and  unseasonable  prolixity  of  the  long- 
winded  holder-forth,  which  cruelly,  injudiciously,  and  despite- 
fully  prevented  poor  Zany  from  puffing  off,  with  the  amplitude 
he  intended,  the  multiplex  virtues  of  the  doctor’s  threepenny 
free-will  powder.”  He  continues  : — 

^ Never  do  that  by  delegation y says  an  old  proverb,  ^ which  you 
can  as  well  do  in  propria  persona.  Had  Doctor  John  himself  got 
upon  the  stage,  and  sung — 

‘ Come,  buy  my  fine  powders  ; come  buy  dem  of  me  ; 

Hare  be  de  best  powders  dat  ever  you  see  : ’ 

who  knows,  but  the  threepenny  doses  might  have  gone  off  ‘ at  both 
doors y as  rapidly  as  peas  from  a pop-gun  ?” 

Toplady,  in  a bantering  tone,  proceeds  to  give  the  chief 
ingredients  of  the  faznous  Moorfields  powder  I'  namely  : — 

“An  equal  portion  of  gross  Heathenismy  Mahometismy  Popery^ 
Manic  haeismy  Ranter  ism  y wade  Antinomianism  ; cull’d,  dry’d,  and  pul- 
veriz’d, secundem  artem:  and,  above  all,  mingled  with  as  much  palpable 
Atheism  as  you  can  possibly  scrape  together  from  every  quarter.” 
(Preface.) 

In  Chapter  L,  Toplady  continues  this  unworthy,  dishonour- 
able abuse.  He  writes  : — 

Aliquis  in  omnibus y nullus  in  singulis.  The  man,  who  concerns 
himself  in  everything,  bids  fair  not  to  make  a figure  in  anything.  Mr. 


^ Query  ? John  Atlay,  the  book- steward. 


Age  46.] 


Toplady  again  Attacks  Wesley. 


341 


John  Wesley  is,  precisely,  this  aliquis  in  Ofnnihus  ; for,  is  there  a single 
subject  in  which  he  has  not  endeavoured  to  shine  ? He  is  also,  as 
precisely,  a nullus  in  singulis ; for,  has  he  shone  in  any  one  subject 
which  he  ever  attempted  to  handle  ? Upon  what  principle  can  these 
two  circumstances  be  accounted  for  ? Only  upon  that  very  principle,  at 
which  he  so  dolefully  shakes  his  head,  viz.,  the  principle  of  necessity. 
The  poor  gentleman  is,  necessarily^  an  universal  meddler ; and,  as 
necessarily,  an  universal  miscarryer.  Can  he  avoid  being  either  the 
one  or  the  other  ? No.”  (p.  10.) 

In  a subsequent  page,  Toplady  asserts  : — 

“Mr.  Wesley,  in  one  respect,  is  as  much,  and,  in  another  respect, 
abundantly  more  a Manichae,  than  either  Scythian,  Budda,  or  Manes. 
By  a very  singular  mixture  of  Manichaeism,  Pelagianisjn,  Foppery, 
Socinianism,  Ranter  ism,  and  Atheism,  he  has,  I believe,  now  got  to 
his  ultimatum.  Probably,  he  would  go  still  further,  if  he  could.  But, 
I really  think,  he  has  no  farther  to  go.  Happy  settlement,  after  forty 
years’  infinity  of  shiftings  and  Sittings  hither  and  thither ! 

“‘Thus  weathercocks,  which,  for  awhile. 

Have  turn’d  about  with  every  blast, — 

Grown  old,  and  destitute  of  oil. 

Rust  to  a point,  and  fix  at  last ! ’”  (p.  13 1.) 

Again,  on  page  168,  Toplady’s  reader  is  told  that — 

“ Mr.  Wesley  is  the  lamest,  the  blindest,  and  the  most  self-contra- 
dictory waster  of  ink  and  paper,  that  ever  pretended  to  the  name  of 
reasoner.  ’Tis  almost  a disgrace  to  refute  him.” 

Again,  on  p.  172,  Toplady  writes  : — 

‘^Mr.  Wesley’s  heat  and  prophaneness  are  such,  that  he  dares  to  scold 
his  Maker  with  as  little  ceremony,  and  with  as  much  scurrility,  as  an 
enraged  fish-woman  would  be-din  the  ears  of  a ’prentice  wench.” 

Was  Toplady  a Christian  ? It  is  difficult  to  answer  that 
question.  A more  monstrous  combination  of  opposing  quali- 
ties has  seldom  figured  on  the  stage  of  human  life.  He  was 
now  thirty-four  years  of  age.^  Three  years  and  a-half  later 
he  was  dead. 

It  is  needless  to  furnish  an  outline  of  Toplady 's  bold  book. 
What  he  attempted  to  expound  and  prove  will  be  found  in 
the  following  extracts  : — 


^ Wesley  was  more  than  seventy  ! 


342 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


^^lown  myself  very  fond  oi  definitions . I therefore  praemise* 
the  necessity  is,  whose  cause  I have  undertaken  to  plead.  I would 
define  necessity  to  be  that,  by  which,  whatever  comes  to  pass  cannot 
but  come  to  pass  (all  circumstances  taken  into  the  account) ; and  can 
come  to  pass  in  no  other  way  or  ma7tner  thdm  it  does”  (p.  12). 

Again,  on  page  157,  he  writes  : — 

For  my  own  part,  I solemnly  profess,  before  God,  angels,  and  men, 
that  I am  not  conscious  of  my  being  endued  with  that  self-determining 
power,  which  Arminianism  ascribes  to  me  as  an  individual  of  the  human 
species.  Nay,  I am  clearly  certain  that  I have  it  not.  I am  also 
equally  certain  that  I do  not  wish  to  have  it ; and  that,  were  it  possible 
for  my  Creator  to  make  me  an  offer  of  transferring  the  determination  of 
any  one  event,  from  His  own  will  to  mine,  it  would  be  both  my  duty  and 
my  wisdom  to  entreat  that  the  sceptre  might  still  remain  with  Himself, 
and  that  I might  have  nothing  to  do  in  the  direction  of  a single  incident, 
or  of  so  much  as  a single  circumstance.” 

The  principles  wrapped  up  in  the  definition  and  the  con- 
fession of  Toplady  are  what  he  tries  to  vindicate  ; and  to 
refute  them  was  the  task  Fletcher  undertook.  Fletchers 
pamphlet  was  published  in  1777,  with  the  following  title: 
“ A Reply  to  the  Principal  Arguments  by  which  the  Cal- 
vinists and  Fatalists  support  the  Doctrine  of  Absolute 
Necessity : being  Remarks  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toplady ’s 

‘ Scheme  of  Christian  and  Philosophical  Necessity.’  By 
John  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Salop.  London,  1777” 
1 2mo,  80  pp. 

Fletcher,  with  his  talent  of  quiet  cutting  irony,  might 
have  rebuked  the  slang  of  Toplady  ; but,  like  a Christian 
and  a gentleman,  he,  with  indignant  silence,  allows  it  to 
pass  unnoticed.  The  task  of  vanquishing  Toplady  was  not 
difficult,  for  seldom  has  a more  absurd  theological  work  than 
“The  Scheme  of  Christian  and  Philosophical  Necessity”  been 
committed  to  the  press.  Fletcher  s “ reply  ” was  perfectly 
unanswerable  : poor  Toplady  was  silenced. 

It  would  tire  the  reader  to  analyse  Fletcher’s  work  ; and 
two  extracts  from  it  must  suffice,  the  first  showing  with 
what  ease  Fletcher  dealt  with  the  absurdities  of  Toplady’s 


1 In  this,  and  in  all  the  foregoing  extracts,  the  spelling  of  words  is 
literally  given. — L.  T. 


Age  46.]  Fletcher  again  Answers  Toplady, 


343 


philosophy  ; and  the  second  exhibiting  his  desire  to  live  in 
peace  and  love  with  even  the  rabid  Calvinists. 

In  Chapter  III.  of  his  book,  Toplady  wrote  as  follows  : — 

^‘It  seems  most  agreeable  to  the  radical  simplicity,  which  God  has 
observed  in  all  His  works,  to  suppose,  that,  in  themselves,  all  human 
souls  are  equal,  I can  easily  believe,  that  the  soul  of  an  oyster-woman 
has,  naturally,  the  unexpanded  powers  of  Grotius,  or  of  Sir  Isaac 
Newton;  and  that  what  conduces  to  raise  the  philosopher,  the  poet, 
the  politician,  or  the  linguist,  so  much  above  the  ignorant  and  stupid 
of  mankind,  is,  not  only  the  circumstance  of  intellectual  cultivation, 
but,  still  more  than  that,  his  having  the  happiness  to  occupy  a better 
house,  i,e,  a body  more  commodiously  organized  than  they.  The  soul 
of  a Monthly  Reviewer,  if  imprisoned  within  the  same  mud  walls  which 
are  tenanted  by  the  soul  of  Mr.  John  Wesley,  would,  similarly  circum- 
stanced, reason  and  act,  I verily  think,  exactly  like  the  Bishop  of  Moor- 
fields.  And  I know  some  very  sensible  people,  who  even  go  so  far  as  to 
suppose,  that,  were  a human  soul  shut  up  in  the  skull  of  a cal,  puss 
would,  notwithstanding,  move  prone  on  all  fours,  purr  when  stroked, 
spit  when  pinched,  and  birds  and  mice  would  be  her  darling  objects  of 
pursuit.  Though  I cannot  carry  matters  to  so  extreme  a length  as  this, 
yet,  I repeat  my  opinion,  very  much  depends  on  corporeal  organization. 

I just  now  hinted  the  conjecture  of  some  that  a human  spirit,  incar- 
cerated in  the  brain  of  a cat,  would,  probably,  both  think  and  behave  as 
that  animal  now  does.  But  how  would  the  soul  of  a cat  acquit  itself,  if 
enclosed  in  the  brain  of  a man  ? We  cannot  resolve  this  question  with 
certainly,  any  more  than  the  other.  We  may,  however,  even  on  this 
occasion,  address  every  one  of  our  human  brethren  in  the  words  of  that 
great  philosophic  necessitarian,  St.  Paul,  and  ask.  Who  makelh  thee 
to  differ  from  the  lowest  of  the  brute  creation  ? Thy  Maker' s free  will, 
not  thine.  And  what  pre-eminence  hast  thou,  which  thou  didst  not 
receive  from  Him  ? Not  the  least,  nor  the  shadow  of  any.’’ 

‘‘  Admirable  divinity  ! ” wrote  Fletcher.  So  Mr.  Toplady  leaves  the 
orthodox  in  doubt, — i.  Whether,  when  their  souls  and  the  souls  of  cats 
shall  be  let  out  of  their  respective  brains  or  prisons,  the  souls  of  cats 
will  not  be  equal  to  the  souls  of  men.  2.  Whether,  supposing  the  soul 
of  a cat  had  been  put  in  the  brain  of  St.  Paul,  or  of  a Monthly  Re- 
viewer, the  soul  of  puss  would  not  have  made  as  great  an  Apostle  as 
the  soul  of  Saul  of  Tarsus  ; as  good  a critic  as  the  soul  of  the  most 
sensible  Reviewer.  And,  3.  Whether,  in  case  the  ‘human  spirit’  of 
Isaiah  ‘ was  shut  up  in  the  skull  of  a cat,  puss  would  not,  notwithstand- 
ing, move  prone  on  all  fours,  purr  when  stroked,  spit  when  pinched,  and 
birds  and  mice  be  her  darling  objects  of  pursuit.’  Is  not  this  a pretty 
large  stride,  for  the  first,  towards  the  doctrine  of  the  sameness  of  the 
souls  of  men  with  the  souls  of  cats  and  frogs  ? Wretched  Calvinism, 
new-fangled  doctrines  of  grace,  where  are  you  leading  your  deluded 
admirers,  your  principal  vindicators  ? Is  it  not  enough,  that  you  have 


344 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


spoiled  the  fountain  of  living  waters,  by  turning  into  it  the  muddy 
streams  of  Zeno' s errors  ? Are  ye  also  going  to  poison  it  by  the  ab- 
surdities of  Pythagoras' s philosophy  ? What  a side-stroke  is  here  inad- 
vertently given  to  these  capital  doctrines,  ‘ God  breathed  into ' Adam 
* the  breath  of  life,  and  he  became  a living  soul ; ' a soul  made  ‘ in  the 
image  of  God,’  and  not  in  the  image  of  a cat ! ‘ The  spirit  of  the  beast 

goeth  downward  to  the  earth ; but  the  spirit  of  man  goeth  upward  ; it 
returns  to  God  who  gave  it,’  with  an  intention  to  judge  and  reward  it 
according  to  its  moral  works. 

‘‘But  I must  do  Mr.  Toplady  justice;  he  does  not  yet  recommend 
this  doctrine  as  absolutely  certain.  However,  from  his  capital  doctrine, 
that  human  souls  have  no  free-will,  no  inward  principle  of  self-deter- 
mination ; and  from  his  avowed  opinion,  that  the  soul  of  one  man, 
placed  in  the  body  of  another  man,  ‘ would,  similarly  circumstanced, 
reason  and  act  exactly  like  ’ the  man  in  whose  mud  walls  it  is  lodged ; 
it  evidently  follows,  i.  That,  had  the  human  soul  of  Christ  been  placed 
in  the  body  and  circumstances  of  Nero,  it  would  have  been  exactly  as 
wicked  and  atrocious  as  the  soul  of  that  bloody  monster  was.  And  2. 
That  if  Nero’s  soul  had  been  placed  in  Christ’s  body,  and  in  His  trying 
circumstances,  it  would  have  been  exactly  as  virtuous  and  immaculate 
as  that  of  the  Redeemer;  the  consequence  is  undeniable.  Thus,  the 
merit  of  the  man  Christ  did  not,  in  the  least,  spring  from  His  righteous 
soul,  but  from  His  ‘ mud  walls,'  and  from  the  happiness  which  His  soul 
had  of  being  lodged  in  a ^ brain  peculiarly  modified,'  Nor  did  the 
demerit  of  Nero  flow  from  his  free  agency  and  self-perversion,  but  only 
from  his  ^ mud  walls,'  and  from  the  infelicity  which  his  necessitated 
soul  had  of  being  lodged  in  ‘ an  ill-conslrucled  vehicle,"  and  placed  on 
that  throne  on  which  Titus  soon  after  deserved  to  be  called  ‘ the  darling 
of  mankind.’  See,  O ye  engrossers  of  orthodoxy,  to  what  absurd  lengths 
your  aversion  to  the  liberty  of  the  will,  and  to  evangelical  worthiness, 
leads  your  unwary  souls ! And  yet,  if  we  believe  Mr.  Toplady,  your 
scheme,  which  is  big  with  these  inevitable  consequences,  is  ‘ Christian 
philosophy,’  and  our  doctrine  of  free  will  is  ‘ philosophy  run  mad,’  p.  30.” 

Did  cat  ever  play  with  mouse  more  perfectly  and  amus- 
ingly than  did  the  Vicar  of  Madeley  with  the  Vicar  of 
Broad  Hembury  } 

The  next  extract,  which  is  the  conclusion  of  Fletcher’s 
triumphant  ‘‘  Reply”  to  Toplady,  shows  his  intense  desire  to 
live  in  love  and  peace  with  his  opponents  : — 

“Mr.  Wesley  and  I are  ready  to  testify  upon  oath,  that  we  humbly 
submit  to  God’s  sovereignty,  and  joyfully  glory  in  the  freeness  of  Gospel 
grace,  which  has  mercifully  distinguished  us  from  countless  myriads  of 
our  fellow-creatures,  by  gratuitously  bestowing  upon  us  numberless 
favours,  of  a spiritual  and  temporal  nature,  which  he  has  thought  proper 
absolutely  to  withhold  from  our  fellow-creatures.  To  meet  the  Cal- 
vinists on  their  own  ground,  we  go  so  far  as  to  allow  there  is  a partial, 


Age  46.]  Fletcher  again  Answers  Toplady, 


345 


gratuitous  election  and  reprobation.  By  this  election,  Christians  are 
admitted  to  the  enjoyment  of  privileges  far  superior  to  those  of  the 
Jews  ; and,  according  to  this  reprobation,  myriads  of  heathen  are  abso- 
lutely cut  off  from  all  the  prerogatives  which  accompany  God’s  covenants 
of  peculiar  grace.  In  a word,  we  grant  to  the  Calvinists  everything 
they  contend  for,  except  the  doctrine  of  absolute  necessity;  nay,  we 
even  grant  the  necessary,  unavoidable  salvation  of  all  that  die  in  their 
infancy.  And  our  love  of  peace  would  make  us  go  farther  to  meet 
Mr.  Toplady,  if  we  could  do  it  without  giving  up  the  justice,  mercy, 
truth,  and  wisdom  of  God,  together  with  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures,  the 
equity  of  God’s  paradisaical  and  mediatorial  laws,  the  propriety  of  the 
day  of  judgment,  and  the  reasonableness  of  the  sentences  of  absolution 
and  condemnation,  which  the  Righteous  Judge  will  then  pronounce. 
We  hope,  therefore,  that  the  prejudices  of  our  Calvinian  brethren  will 
subside ; and  that,  instead  of  accounting  us  inveterate  enemies  to 
truth,  they  will  do  us  the  justice  to  say,  that  we  have  done  our  best  to 
hinder  them  from  inadvertently  betraying  some  of  the  greatest  truths  of 
Christianity  into  the  hands  of  the  Manichees,  Materialists,  Infidels,  and 
Antinomians  of  the  age.  May  the  Lord  hasten  the  happy  day  in  which 
we  shall  no  more  waste  our  precious  time  in  attacking  or  defending  the 
truths  of  our  holy  religion  ; but  bestow  every  moment  in  the  sweet 
exercises  of  Divine  and  brotherly  love  ! ” 

During  the  last  six  years,  Fletcher  had  most  laboriously 
devoted  the  whole  of  the  time  he  could  conscientiously  spare 
from  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  parochial  duties,  to  an 
earnest  and  elaborate  explanation  and  defence  of  the  Anti- 
Calvinian  doctrines,  formally  announced  by  his  friend  Wesley, 
at  the  Conference  of  1770.  Wesley  was  without  leisure  for 
this.  If  he  had  attempted  it,  he  would  have  been  obliged 
to  content  himself  with  the  publication  of  brief,  sententious 
tracts  ; and  this  would  have  been  insufficient.  Most  of  the 
Methodist  clergymen  of  the  day,  including  Whitefield,  Her- 
vey,  Romaine,  Berridge,  Shirley,  Toplady,  and  many  others, 
had  become  sincere  and  laborious  Calvinists.  Their  pub- 
lications were  widely  spread,  and  their  views  extensively 
embraced.  Wesley  saw  and  felt  that  an  antidote  was  needed  ; 
and  especially  as  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  had  recently 
opened  her  college  at  Trevecca  to  multiply  the  number  of 
such  ministers.  Hence,  the  declaration  of  his  “Minutes,’’ 
and  hence,  the  fierce  controversial  war  that  immediately 
followed.  Fletcher  had  been  educated  at  Geneva,  where 
Calvin  had  propounded  his  creed,  and  his  form  of  Church 
government.  Fletcher  was  not,  professedly,  a theological 


346 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


student  at  Geneva  ; but  he  was  a regular  attendant  at  Divine 
services,  as  well  as  a diligent  reader  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  was,  to  a considerable 
extent,  even  in  his  youth,  acquainted  with  the  Calvinian 
theology.  At  all  events,  when  the  controversy  commenced, 
in  1770,  there  was  no  one,  among  Wesley’s  helpers,  so 
competent  to  enter  the  arena,  on  his  behalf,  as  his  friend 
Fletcher.  Hitherto,  Fletcher  had  been  accustomed  to  make 
little  evangelistic  tours,  to  London,  to  Wales,  and  to  other 
places  ; but  now,  for  six  years,  he  confined  himself  within 
his  own  parish,  that  he  might  have  time  to  defend  Wesley. 
Up  to  the  present,  his  letters  to  his  friends  had  been  some- 
what numerous  ; now,  to  write  a letter  was  one  of  his  rare 
exercises.  He  was  committed  to  a great  work  ; and  every- 
thing, excepting  the  pastoral  duties  of  his  parish,  must  give 
way  to  it.  Of  the  style  of  his  writings,  the  reader  has  had 
numerous  specimens.  It  is  always  perspicuous,  lively,  chaste, 
though  occasionally  prolix.  Many  of  his  figures  are  apt, 
striking,  convincing  ; but  others  would  have  been  more  im- 
pressive had  they  been  less  elaborate.  His  arguments  are 
fair,  legitimate,  and  generally  unanswerable.  His  spirit,  with- 
out exception,  is  saintly.  He  never  becomes  personal  ; never 
deals  in  invective  ; never  assails  character  ; never  impugns 
motives.  Among  the  Wesleyan  Methodists,  he  settled  for 
ever  all  the  questions  of  the  Calvinian  controversy.  For 
many  a long  year,  Methodist  preachers — itinerant  and  local 
— drew  their  arguments  and  illustrations  from  his  invaluable 
Checks  and,  perhaps,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  not 
a few  of  the  Calvinists  themselves  were  led  by  his  immortal 
productions  to  explain,  and  modify,  and,  to  some  extent,  to 
change  their  unwarrantable  doctrines.  To  his  memory,  the 
Methodist  Churches  owe  undying  veneration  ; for  he  did  for 
Wesley’s  theology  what  no  other  man  than  himself,  at  that 
period,  could  have  done.  John  Wesley  travelled,  formed 
Societies,  and  governed  them.  Charles  Wesley  composed 
unequalled  hymns  for  the  Methodists  to  sing  ; and  John 
Fletcher,  a native  of  Calvinian  Switzerland,  explained,  ela- 
borated, and  defended  the  doctrines  they  heartily  believed. 

Hitherto,  his  opponents  had  been  Walter  Shirley,  Richard 
Hill  and  his  brother  Rowland,  honest  Berridge,  and  clever 


Age  46.] 


Rev,  Caleb  Evans. 


347 


but  censorious  Toplady.  The  last,  for  invective,  was  the 
worst.  Twenty  years  before,  he  had  heard  James  Morris, 
one  of  Wesley's  itinerants,  preach  in  a barn  at  Codymain, 
and  soon  afterwards  was  converted.  Two  years  later,  while 
a student  in  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  he  wrote  an  admirable 
letter  to  Wesley,  thanking  him  for  his  ‘‘  kind  " cautions  and 
advices.  When  and  why  he  became  the  bitter  foe  of  Wesley 
it  is  difficult  to  determine.  He  died  on  August  1 1,  1778, 
in  the  thirty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  in  a grave, 
thirteen  feet  deep,  under  the  gallery  of  Whitefield’s  chapel, 
in  Tottenham  Court  Road. 

Fletcher’s  next  antagonist  was  the  Rev.  Caleb  Evans,  a 
Baptist  minister  at  Bristol  ; a man  of  good  sense,  a diligent 
student,  a faithful  pastor,  and  now  thirty-seven  years  of  age. 
At  this  period,  the  English  colonists  in  America  were  in 
rebellion.  On  May  10,  1775,  a Congress  of  the  thirteen 
States  met  at  Philadelphia,  and  appointed  George  Washington 
as  their  Commander-in-Chief.  He  took  command  of  the 
army  before  Boston,  where  the  English  had  ten  thousand 
men.  A few  days  after  his  arrival,  the  terrible  battle  at 
Bunker’s  Hill  was  fought ; and  a bloody  war  soon  spread 
over  the  whole  seaboard,  and  even  into  Canada,  where  the 
American  colonists  besieged  Quebec.  In  the  year  1775, 
Wesley  abridged  Dr.  Johnson’s  famous  pamphlet,  entitled, 
‘‘  Taxation  no  Tyranny,”  and  published  it  as  his  own, 
without  the  least  reference  as  to  its  origin.  Mr.  Evans 
warmly  sympathized  with  the  colonists,  and  published  ‘‘  A 
Letter  to  the  Rev.  John  Wesley,  occasioned  by  his  ‘Calm 
Address.’  ” Wesley’s  reply  to  this  was  the  republication  of 
his  pirated  pamphlet,  with  a preface  prefixed,  in  which  he 
said,  “ All  the  arguments  ” [of  Evans]  ‘‘  might  be  contained 
in  a nutshell.”  Political  as  well  as  theological  controversy 
is  always  irritating.  Angry  tracts  and  pamphlets,  almost 
without  number,  were  committed  to  the  press  ; but  all  of 
them,  except  those  in  which  Fletcher  was  concerned,  must 
here  be  passed  in  silence.  Fletcher  now,  strangely  enough, 
turned  politician.  Early  in  the  year  1776,  he  published  the 
following  : “ A Vindication  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘ Calm 
Address  to  our  American  Colonists:’  In  some  Letters  to 
Mr.  Caleb  Evans:  By  John  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley, 


348 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


Salop.  London  : Printed  and  sold  at  the  Foundery.'’ 

i2mo,  70  pp.^ 

In  a letter  to  Joseph  Benson,  he  said  : — 

I have  unaccountably  launched  into  Christian  politics  ; a branch  of 
divinity  too  much  neglected  by  some  and  too  much  attended  to  by  others. 
If  you  have  seen  my  ‘ Vindication  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  Calm  Address,’  and 
can  make  sense  of  that  badly  printed  piece,  I shall  be  thankful  for  your 
very  dispraise.” 

To  James  Ireland,  Esq.,  he  wrote  on  February  3,  1776  : — 

‘‘My  little  political  piece  is  published  in  London.  You  thank  me  for 
it  beforehand  ; I believe  they  are  the  only  thanks  I shall  have.  It  is 
well  you  sent  them  before  you  read  the  book ; and  yet,  whatever  con- 
tempt it  brings  upon  me,  I still  think  I have  written  the  truth.  If  I have 
been  wrong  in  writing,  I hope  I shall  not  be  so  excessively  wrong  as 
not  to  be  thankful  for  any  reproof  candidly  levelled  at  what  I have 
written.  I prepare  myself  to  be  like  my  Lord  in  my  little  measure ; I 
mean,  to  be  ‘ Despised  and  rejected  of  men  ; a man  of  sorrows,  and 
acquainted  with  griefs,' — most  reviled  for  what  I mean  best.” 

Evidence  will  soon  be  adduced  that  Fletcher’s  apprehensions 
of  coming  reproach  were  realized. 

It  may  fairly  be  doubted  whether  Wesley  and  Fletcher 
acted  wisely  in  rushing  into  the  fierce  political  strife  that 
then  existed.  Their  motives  were  pure  ; and,  perhaps,  Mr. 
Benson,  living  at  the  time,  and  a competent  observer  of  men 
and  things,  was  correct  when  he  said, — 

“ Mr.  Fletcher’s  publications  upon  the  question  which  divided  Great 
Britain  and  her  Colonies,  as  well  as  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Calm  Address,’ 
certainly  were  of  great  use  ; not  indeed  to  prevent  the  continuation  and 
further  progress  of  the  war,  and  stop  the  effusion  of  blood  abroad,  but 
to  allay  the  spirits  of  disloyalty  and  insurrection  which  were  beginning 
to  show  themselves  at  home.” 

Still,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the  high  and  holy  vocation  of 
Wesley  and  Fletcher  was  not  to  rebuke  and  correct  political 
errors,  but  to  revive,  spread,  and  defend  the  great  Gospel 
truths  which  had  been  so  long  neglected  and  forgotten. 

No  useful  end  would  be  answered  by  giving  an  outline 
of  Fletchers  arguments  in  his  ‘^Vindication  of  Wesley’s  ‘Calm 


^ In  the  same  year,  another  edition  was  published  in  “Dublin ; Printed 
for  W.  Whitestone,  No.  33,  Skinner  Row.” 


Age  46.] 


M}\  Evans  answers  Fletcher. 


349 


Address/’'  Many  of  them  may  be  more  easily  sneered  at 
than  answered.  They  show  the  versatility  of  Fletcher’s 
genius  ; and,  remembering  the  fewness  of  the  newspapers 
then  published,  they  create  surprise  at  the  extent  of  Fletcher’s 
political  information.  He  often  uses  strong  language,  but 
he  is  never  ungentlemanly  or  abusive.  He  was  loyal  to  the 
throne  and  government  of  England,  but  he  was  not  a blind 
opponent  of  civil  liberty,  or  that  exemption  from  the  arbitrary 
will  of  others  which  is  secured  by  equitable  and  established 
laws.  In  concluding  his  first  letter  to  Mr.  Evans  he  wrote: — 

I declare  that  I am  as  much  in  love  with  liberty  as  with  loyalty ; 
and  that  I write  a heartfelt  truth  when  I subscribe  myself,  Rev.  Sir, 
your  affectionate  fellow-labourer  in  the  Gospel,  a republican  by  birth  and 
education,  and  a subject  of  Great  Britain  by  love  of  liberty  and  free 
choice.^’ 

As  soon  as  Fletcher’s  pamphlet  appeared,  Mr.  Evans 
hastened  to  answer  it,  and  employed  Wesley’s  old  friend, 
William  Pine,  of  Bristol,  as  his  printer  and  publisher.  The 
title  of  his  new  production  was  ‘‘  A Reply  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Fletcher’s  ‘Vindication’  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘Calm  Address  to  our 
American  Colonists.’  By  Caleb  Evans,  M.A.”  12  mo,  103  pp. 

Mr.  Evans’s  reply  was  full  of  bad  temper.  The  first 
twenty-three  pages  were  devoted  to  abusive  remarks  on  the 
change  which  had  taken  place  in  Wesley’s  political  opinions, 
and  to  a mistake  which  Wesley  honestly  confessed  he  had 
made  in  denying  that  he  had  seen  a book  on  “the  exclusive 
right  of  the  Colonies  to  tax  themselves.”  He  acknowledges 
that  he  had  seen  the  book,  but  adds  : “ I had  so  entirely 
forgotten  it,  that  even  when  I saw  it  again  I recollected 
nothing  of  it  till  I had  read  several  pages.”  Mr.  Evans,  in 
an  angry  spirit,  uses  this  lapse  of  memory  to  the  utmost  in 
an  endeavour  to  brand  Wesley  as  a liar,  and  concludes  his 
first  letter  to  Fletcher  thus  : — 

Having  thus  given  you.  Sir,  a faithful  narrative  of  the  rise,  progress, 
and  conclusion  of  the  dispute  betwixt  me  and  Mr.  Wesley,  you  are 
welcome  to  re-enter  on  the  vindication  oiyour  friend,  as  you  style  him, 
as  soon  as  you  please.  And  should  you  find  yourself  unequal  to  the 
Herculean  task,  you  may  call  in  the  assistance  of  the  amazing  Mr. 
Thomas  Olivers,  that  mirror  of  Christian  meekness  and  modesty,  and 


350 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


with  his  logic  and  your  oratory,  aided  by  scraps  of  mutilated  letters, 
you  will  perform  wonders.’’ 

Mr.  Evans  begins  his  second  letter  by  politely  telling 
Fletcher  that  in  reading  his  ‘‘Vindication  of  Wesley's  ‘Calm 
Address'"  he  had  been  greatly  disappointed. 

‘‘For,”  says  he,  “ instead  of  argument,  I met  with  nothing  but  decla- 
mation ; instead  of  precision,  artful  colouring  ; instead  of  proof,  pre- 
sumption ; instead  of  consistency,  contradiction  ; instead  of  reasoning, 
a string  of  sophistries.  Your  letters  abound.  Sir,  as  every  intelligent 
reader  will  easily  discover,  with  ^etitio  ^rincipii^  the  fallacia  acci- 

dentis,  the  non  causa  ^ro  causa^  and  those  many  other  pretty  inven- 
tions by  which,  as  the  Schoolmen  very  well  know,  a question  may  be 
embarrassed  when  it  cannot  be  answered.” 

In  succeeding  pages,  Mr.  Evans  charges  Fletcher  with 
using  “loose,  inconsistent,  vague  declamation;"  and  adds: — 

“This  may  confound  the  ignorant  and  superficial;  but  you  cannot 
yourself  suppose  it  ever  can  convince  the  intelligent  and  impartial. 
Your  chief  aim  seems  to  be  spargere  voces  in  vulgam  ambiguas,  and 
thereby  artfully  to  persuade  them  that  all  those  who  are  enemies  to  the 
measures  of  the  ministry  respecting  America  are  Republicans,  king- 
haters,  Calvinists,  Anabaptists,  Antinomians,  and  everything  that 
is  bad.” 

Poor  Fletcher  ! He  was  indeed  realizing  the  reproach 
he  had  apprehended ; and  yet  he  was  not  satisfied.  Hence  his 
publication  of  the  following:  “American  Patriotism:  Farther 
confronted  with  Reason,  Scripture,  and  the  Constitution  : 
Being  Observations  on  the  Dangerous  Politicks  taught  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Evans,  M.A.,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Price.^  With  a 
Scriptural  Plea  for  the  Revolted  Colonies.  By  J.  Fletcher, 
Vicar  of  Madeley."  1776.  12 mo,  138  pp. 

“ The  author,”  writes  Fletcher  in  his  preface,  “ dares  not  flatter  him- 
self to  have  the  knowledge  of  logic  and  divinity,  which  are  requisite  to 
do  his  subject  the  justice  it  deserves  ; but,  having  for  some  years  opposed 
false  orthodoxy , he  may  have  acquired  a little  skill  to  oppose  false 
patriotism  ; and,  having  defended  evangelical  obedience  to  God  against 
the  indirect  attacks  of  some  ministers  of  the  Church  of  England,  he 
humbly  hopes  that  he  m»ay  step  forth  a second  time  and  defend  consti- 


1 Mr.  Evans,  in  his  “ Reply,”  had  made  several  quotations  from  what 
he  calls  “ Dr.  Price’s  most  excellent  pamphlet,  just  published,”  and 
entitled  , “ Observations  on  the  Nature  of  Civil  Liberty.” 


Age  47.] 


The  Bible  a7id  the  Sword.'’ ' 


351 


tutional  obedience  to  the  king  against  some  ministers  who  dissent  from 
the  Established  Church.  Those  whom  he  encounters  in  these  sheets  are 
the  leading  ecclesiastical  patriots  of  the  two  greatest  cities  in  the  king- 
dom ; Mr.  Evans  being  the  champion  of  the  minority  in  Bristol,  as  Dr. 
Price  is  in  London.” 

Of  course,  Fletcher’s  book  is  able  ; but,  excepting  so  far  as 
it  teaches  that  loyalty  is  a Christian  duty,  it  is,  to  a great 
extent,  out  of  date. 

On  October  30,  1776,  a royal  proclamation  was  issued, 
ordering  ‘‘  a public  fast  and  humiliation  to  be  observed 
throughout  England  and  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  upon 
Friday  the  13th  of  December  next,  for  the  purpose  of 
imploring  the  Almighty  speedily  to  deliver  the  King’s  loyal 
subjects  within  his  colonies  and  provinces  in  North  America, 
from  the  violence,  injustice,  and  tyranny  of  those  daring 
rebels  who  had  assumed  to  themselves  the  exercise  of  arbi- 
trary power ; to  open  the  eyes  of  those  who  had  been 
deluded,  by  specious  falsehoods,  into  acts  of  treason  and 
rebellion  ; to  turn  the  hearts  of  the  authors  of  these 
calamities  ; and  to  restore  his  people  in  those  distracted 
provinces  and  colonies  to  the  happy  condition  of  being  free 
subjects  in  a free  state,  under  which  heretofore  they  had 
flourished  so  long,  and  prospered  so  much.”^ 

This  had  Fletcher’s  hearty  approbation,  and  he  at  once 
wrote  and  published  a 12  mo  pamphlet  of  22  pages,  dated 
''London,  December  6,  1776,”  with  the  title,  "The  Bible 
and  the  Sword  ; or.  The  Appointment  of  the  General  Fast 
Vindicated  : In  an  Address  to  the  Common  People,  con- 
cerning the  Propriety  of  Repressing  obstinate  Licentiousness 
with  the  Sword,  and  of  Fasting  when  the  Sword  is  drawn 
for  that  Purpose.  London  : Printed  by  R.  Hawes,  and  sold 
at  the  Foundery,  in  Moorfields,  and  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley’s 
Preaching  Houses  in  Town  and  Country.  1776.”^  One 
half  of  this  pamphlet,  however,  was  simply  a reprint  of 
extracts  from  his  "American  Patriotism  the  other  half  is 


^ Annual  Register,  1776. 

^ Almost  without  exception,  all  Fletcher’s  publications  had  on  their 
title-pages  the  advertisement,  ‘'Sold  at  the  Foundery,  in  Moorfields, 
and  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley’s  preaching-houses  in  town  and  country.” 


352 


TVes ley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


devoted  to  the  task  of  proving,  from  Scripture,  that,  under 
certain  circumstances,  war  is  lawful. 

As  he  expected,  Fletcher,  by  his  political  publications, 
brought  upon  himself  political  wrath  and  censure,  of  which 
the  following  extracts,  taken  from  the  Monthly  Review,  are 
specimens  : — 

‘^Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  distinguished  in  the  late  theological  con- 
troversies between  Mr.  Wesley  and  his  followers,  on  the  one  part,  and 
the  Antinomians,  or  Calvinists,  on  the  other.  In  these  disputes,  the 
Shropshire  vicar  made  no  inconsiderable  figure ; and  we  have  freely 
and  impartially  done  justice  to  his  abilities.  In  politics ^ however,  we 
have  nothing  to  say  in  his  favour.  We  are,  indeed,  sorry  to  observe 
that  he  is  a mere  Sacheverell ; a preacher  of  those  slavish  and  justly 
exploded  Jacobitical  doctrines,  for  which  the  memory  of  Sacheverell 
and  his  abettors  will  ever  be  held  in  equal  contempt  and  abhorrence  by 
every  true  friend  to  the  liberties  of  mankind.”  ^ 

'‘Mr.  Fletcher’s  present  performance”  {^Americaii  Patriotisfri)  " is, 
like  his  former  piece  on  this  subject,  wordy,  specious,  and  artful.  He 
alternately  attacks  the  champions  on  the  other  side  of  the  question. 
Dr.  Price  and  Mr.  Evans ; and  he  evidently  thinks  himself  a match 
for  them  both.  We  are  almost  tired  of  the  fruitless  contest ; but  one 
word  with  Mr.  Fletcher  before  we  part.  He  is  a little  chagrined  at  our 
styling  him  a me^^e  Sacheverell ; and  he  takes  pains,  in  this  publi- 
cation, to  show  his  equal  abhorrence  of  regal  or  of  mobhish  tyranny. 
We  are  glad  to  find  this  rev.  gentleman  thus  disclaiming  those 
principles,  to  which  many  of  his  positions  and  arguments  obviously 
lead ; and  we  charitably  hope  that  he  was  not  aware  of  the  full  extent 
and  tendency  of  their  operation.  Mr.  Fletcher  is,  by  all  report,  a good 
man  ; but  he  will  never,  we  suspect,  obtain  a good  report  merely  for 
his  politics^  except  with  those  who  have  already  embraced  the  same 
system  ; for  mankind  are  too  much  guided  by  Swift’s  rule  of  pronouncing 
those  right  vsfh.0  think  as  we  do,  and  every  one  wrong  vih.o  differs  from 
us.  Poor  encouragement,  by  the  way,  for  our  author  to  expend  his  ink, 
and  wear  out  his  pens,  in  order  to  convert  those  political  heretics,  the 
advocates  for  America.”  ^ 

The  sneers  of  the  Monthly  Reviewers  were  unjust.  Fletcher, 
in  reply  to  their  unmerited  taunt,  remarked  : — 

" I am  no  more  ' a 7nere  SacheverelP  than  I am  a mere  Price.  Dr. 
Sacheverell  ran  as  fiercely  into  the  high  monarchical  extreme  as  Dr. 
Price  does  into  the  high  republican  extreme.  I have  endeavoured  to 
keep  at  an  equal  distance  from  their  opposite  mistakes,  by  contending 
only  for  the  just  medium,  which  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  our  excellent 


^ Monthly  Review,  1776,  vol.  liv.,  p.  325. 
' Ibid,  1776,  vol.  Iv,  p.  155. 


Age  46.]  The  Government  Desires  to  Reward  Fletcher.  353 


constitution  point  out.  If  Dr.  Sacheverell  were  alive,  and  his  erroneous, 
enthusiastical,  mobbing  politics  endangered  the  public  tranquillity,  as 
the  patriotism  of  Mr.  Evans  and  Dr.  Price  does  at  present,  I would 
oppose  the  high  churcJunan  as  much  as  I now  do  the  two  high 
dissenters y ^ 

Notwithstanding  the  depreciatory  opinions  of  Mr.  Evans, 
Dr.  Price,  and  the  Monthly  Reviewers,  the  government  of 
King  George  III.  desired  to  reward  Fletcher  for  the  service  he 
had  rendered  them.  His  old  friend,  Mr.  Vaughan,  informed 
Wesley  that  he  took  one  of  Fletcher’s  political  pamphlets  to 
the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  at  that  time  Secretary  of  State  for 
the  Colonies.  Lord  Dartmouth  carried  it  to  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, who  handed  it  to  King  George.  The  result  was 
an  official  was  immediately  commissioned  to  ask  Fletcher 
whether  any  preferment  in  the  Church  would  be  acceptable 
to  him  } or  whether  the  Lord  Chancellor  could  do  him  any 
service  1 Fletcher  replied,  no  doubt  to  the  amazement  of  all 
concerned,  I want  nothing,  but  more  grace.”  ^ 

This  was  characteristic  of  the  man.  “ The  love  of  money, 
the  root  of  all  evil,”  was  a sin  from  which  Fletcher  was 
entirely  exempt. 

the  loth  of  May,  1774,”  says  Mr.  Vaughan,  *‘Mr.  Fletcher 
wrote  me  thus : ‘ My  brother  has  sent  me  the  rent  of  the  little  place 
I have  abroad,  ^80,  which  I was  to  receive  from  Mr.  Chauvet  and  Co., 
in  London.  But,  instead  of  sending  the  draught  for  the  money,  I have 
sent  it  back  to  Switzerland,  with  orders  to  distribute  it  among  the  poor. 
As  money  is  rather  higher  there  than  here,  that  mite  will  go  farther 
abroad  than  it  would  in  my  parish.’  ” ^ 

Mr.  Vaughan  continues  : — 

In  1776,  he  deposited  with  me  a bill  of  ;^i05,  being,  as  I understood 
the  yearly  produce  of  his  estate  in  Switzerland.  This  was  his  fund  for 
charitable  uses ; but  it  lasted  only  a few  months,  when  he  drew  upon 
me  for  the  balance,  which  was  £2/^^  to  complete  the  preaching-house  in 
Madeley  Wood.”^ 

Men,  said  Cicero,  resemble  the  gods  in  nothing  so  much 
as  in  doing  good  to  their  fellow-creatures. 


* ‘‘American  Patriotism,”  p.  130. 
^ Wesley’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Ibid. 

^ Ibid. 


23 


354 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

CORRESPONDENCE  IN  1776. 

FLETCHER'S  health  was  failing ; and  no  wonder. 
Wesley  writes  : — 

He  was  more  and  more  abundant  in  his  ministerial  labours,  both  in 
public  and  private  ; not  contenting  himself  with  preaching,  but  visiting 
his  flock  in  every  corner  of  his  parish.  And  this  work  he  attended  to 
early  and  late,  whether  the  weather  was  fair  or  foul ; regarding  neither 
heat  nor  cold,  rain  nor  snow,  whether  he  was  on  horseback  or  on  foot. 
But  this  further  weakened  his  constitution  ; which  was  still  more 
effectually  done  by  his  intense  and  uninterrupted  studies,  in  which  he 
frequently  continued,  without  scarce  any  intermission,  fourteen,  fifteen, 
or  sixteen  hours  a day.  But  still  he  did  not  allow  himself  such  food  as 
was  necessary  to  sustain  nature.  He  seldom  took  any  regular  meals 
except  he  had  company ; otherwise,  twice  or  thrice  in  four-and-twenty 
hours  he  ate  some  bread  and  cheese,  or  fruit.  Instead  of  this,  he  some- 
times took  a draught  of  milk,  and  then  wrote  on  again.  When  one 
reproved  him  for  not  affording  himself  a sufficiency  of  necessary  food, 
he  replied,  ‘ Not  allow  myself  food ! Why  our  food  seldom  costs  my 
housekeeper  and  me  less  than  two  shillings  a week.”  ^ 

During  the  Calvinian  controversy,  Fletcher’s  letters  to  his 
friends  seem  to  have  been  comparatively  few.  At  all  events, 
few  have  been  preserved.  Now  he  resumed  his  epistolary 
correspondence  ; and  the  present  chapter  will  mainly  consist 
of  these  outpourings  of  his  heart  to  those  whom  he  dearly 
loved. 

In  a letter,  dated  January  9,  1776,  and  published  in  the 
Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  Fletcher  refers  to  a renewed 
proposal  to  become  Wesley’s  successor.  To  prepare  him  for 
this,  Wesley  requested  that  he  would  accompany  him  in  his 
evangelistic  tours,  so  that  he  might  be  commended  to  the 
Methodist  Societies  they  visited.  Fletcher  replied  that  he 


Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  46.]  Fletcher  a gam  objects  to  become  Wesley's  Successor.  355 


was  willing  to  accompany  Wesley  as  a travelling  assistant  ; 
but  he  strongly  objected  to  being  nominated  Wesley’s 
successor.  Besides  other  reasons,  which  he  adduced,  he  re- 
marked, that  such  a nomination  would  lead  people  to  suspect, 
and  say,  that  what  he  had  written,  “for  truth  and  conscience’ 
sake,”  in  defence  of  Wesley’s  doctrines,  had  all  been  done 
for  the  purpose  of  becoming,  what  Toplady  had  called,  “ the 
Bishop  of  Moorfields.”  There  is  no  need  to  quote  this  letter 
at  full  length  ; but  it  is  an  important  one,  as  showing  that 
the  proposal  which  Wesley  had  made  to  Fletcher,  three 
years  before,  was  not  a passing  whim,  but  a fixed  idea,  on 
the  realization  of  which  he  had  set  his  heart.^ 

It  may  be  added,  that  Fletcher,  in  the  same  letter,  informs 
Wesley,  that,  by  the  last  post,  he  had  sent  him  a manuscript, 
entitled,  “ A Second  Check  to  Civil  Antinomianism  being 
an  extract  from  the  Church  of  England  Homily  on  Rebellion  ; 
and  he  expresses  the  opinion  that  it  might  be  well  to  print 
and  circulate  it,  not  only  for  the  general  good,  but,  also,  “ to 
shame  Mr.  Roquet,”  one  of  the  first  masters  of  Wesley’s  school, 
at  Kingswood,  but  now  a clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England, 
who,  in  the  controversy  respecting  the  American  rebellion, 
had  turned  against  his  old  friend  Wesley,  and  had  rendered 
assistance  to  Wesley’s  dissenting  opponent,  Caleb  Evans. 
Wesley  seems  to  have  had  more  regard  for  Mr.  Roquet’s 
reputation,  than  even  gentle-minded  Fletcher  had,  for 
Fletcher’s  manuscript  was  not  published. 

Fletcher  refused  to  be  commended  as  Wesley’s  successor  ; 
but  he  evidently  thought  of  travelling.  Hence,  in  a letter 
to  his  friend  James  Ireland,  Esq.,  he  wrote  : — 

“ Madeley,  February  3,  1776.  Upon  the  news  of  your  illness,  I and 
many  more  prayed  that  you  might  be  supported  under  your  pressures, 


^ Others,  besides  Wesley,  had  fixed  upon  Fletcher  as  Wesley’s  suc- 
cessor. Joseph  Benson,  in  1775,  shortly  after  Wesley’s  dangerous 
illness  in  Ireland,  wrote  to  him,  saying,  “In  case  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  death, 
your  help  would  be  wanted,  in  the  government  of  the  Societies,  and  in 
conducting  the  work  of  God.”  To  this,  Fletcher  replied,  “God  has 
lately  shaken  Mr.  Wesley  over  the  grave  ; but,  I believe,  from  the 
strength  of  his  constitution  and  the  weakness  of  mine,  he  will  survive 
me  ; so  that  I do  not  scheme  about  helping  to  make  up  the  gap,  when 
that  great  tree  shall  fall.  Sulficient  for  the  day  will  that  trouble  be  ; 
nor  will  the  Divine  power  be  then  insufficient  to  help  the  people  in  time 
of  need.”  (Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.”) 


356 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


and  that  they  might  yield  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness.  We 
shall  now  turn  our  prayers  into  praises  for  your  happy  recovery,  and  for 
the  support  the  Lord  has  granted  you  under  your  trial.  There  are 
lessons  which  we  can  never  learn  but  under  the  cross : we  must  suffer 
with  Christ  if  we  will  be  glorified  with  Him.  I hope  you  will  take  care 
that  it  may  not  be  said  of  you,  as  it  was  of  Hezekiah,  ' He  rendered  not 
unto  the  Lord,  according  to  the  benefit’  of  his  recovery.  May  we  see 
the  propriety  and  profit  of  rendering  Him  our  bodies  and  our  souls, — 
the  sacrifices  of  humble,  praising,  obedient  love, — and  warm,  active, 
cheerful  thanksgiving ! 

A young  clergyman  offers  to  assist  me  : if  he  does,  I may  make  an 
excursion  somewhere  this  spring ; where  it  will  be,  I don’t  know.  It 
maybe  into  eternity,  for  I dare  not  depend  upon  to-morrow ; but  should 
it  be  your  way,  I shall  inform  you  of  a variety  of  family  trials,  which 
the  Lord  has  sent  me — all  for  good,  to  break  my  will  in  every  possible 
respect.”  * 

In  reference  to  this  excursion,  Wesley  writes  : — 

‘^His  health  being  more  than  ever  impaired  by  a violent  cough,  accom- 
panied with  spitting  of  blood,  I told  him,  nothing  was  so  likely  to  restore 
his  health  as  a long  journey.  I,  therefore,  proposed  his  taking  a journey 
of  some  months  with  me,  through  various  parts  of  England  and  Scotland ; 
telling  him,  ‘ When  you  are  tired,  or  like  it  best,  you  may  come  into  my 
carriage ; but,  remember,  that  riding  on  horseback  is  the  best  of  all 
exercises  iox you,  so  far  as  your  strength  will  permit.’  He  looked  upon 
this  as  a call  from  Providence,  and  very  willingly  accepted  of  the  pro- 
posal. We  set  out,  as  I am  accustomed  to  do,  early  in  the  spring,  and 
travelled  by  moderate  journeys,  suited  to  his  strength,  eleven  or  twelve 
hundred  miles. ^ When  we  returned  to  London,  in  the  latter  end  of  the 
year,  he  was  considerably  better;  and  I verily  believe,  if  he  had  travelled 
with  me,  partly  in  the  chaise  and  partly  on  horseback,  only  a few  months 
longer,  he  would  have  quite  recovered  his  health.”  ^ 

At  this  period,  the  end  of  1775,  or  the  beginning  of  1776, 
Joseph  Benson  was  stationed  in  the  circuit  of  Newcastle-on- 
Tyne,  and  to  him  Fletcher  wrote  as  follows  : — 

‘‘Though  I am  pretty  well  in  body,  I break  fast.  I have  been  put 
into  such  pinching,  grinding  circumstances  for  near  a year,  by  a series 
of  providential  and  domestic  trials,  as  have  given  me  some  deadly  blows. 
Mr.  Wesley  kindly  invited  me  some  weeks  ago  to  travel  with  him  and 
visit  some  of  his  Societies.  The  controversy  is  partly  over,  and  I feel 
an  inclination  to  break  one  of  my  chains, — parochial  retirement, — which 
may  be  a nest  for  self.  A young  minister,  in  deacon’s  orders,  has 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  227. 

2 I cannot  trace  this  journey. — L.T. 
^ Wesley’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age 46.]  Fletcher  Discouraged.  357 


offered  to  be  my  curate  ; and,  if  he  can  live  in  this  wilderness,  I shall 
have  some  liberty  to  leave  it.  I commit  the  matter  entirely  to  the  Lord. 

The  few  professors  I see  in  these  parts  are  so  far  from  what  I could 
wish  them  and  myself  to  be,  that  I cannot  but  cry  out,  ‘ Lord,  how  long 
wilt  Thou  give  Thine  heritage  to  desolation  or  barrenness  ? How  long 
shall  the  heathen  say,  where  is  now  their  indwelling  God  ? ’ I hope  it 
is  better  with  you  in  the  north.  What  are  your  heart,  your  pen,  your 
tongue  doing  ? Are  they  receiving,  sealing,  spreading  the  truth  every- 
where within  your  sphere  ? Are  you  dead  to  praise  or  dispraise  ? Could 
you  quietly  pass  for  a mere  fool,  and  have  gross  nonsense  fathered  upon 
you  without  any  uneasy  reflection  of  self  ? The  Lord  bless  you  ! Beware 
of  your  grand  enemy,  earthly  wisdom,  and  unbelieving  reasonings.  You 
will  never  overcome  but  by  childlike,  loving  simplicity.”^ 

Wesley  set  out,  on  his  long  journey'd  from  London,  on 
Sunday  evening,  March  3,  1776,  and  reached  Bristol  two 
days  afterwards.  On  Wednesday,  March  6,  he  went  to 
Taunton,  and  ‘‘opened  the  new  preaching-house.”  On 
Thursday,  he  returned  to  Bristol  ; and,  on  the  Monday  fol- 
lowing, started  for  the  north,  visiting  his  Societies  at  Stroud, 
Painswick,  Tewkesbury,  Worcester,  and  other  places,  until, 
on  March  25,  he  arrived  at  Birmingham.^  Mr.  Benson  says 
Fletcher  joined  Wesley  “ at  London,  or  more  probably  at 
Bristol,  and  accompanied  him  on  his  journeys  through 
Gloucestershire,  and  Worcestershire,  and  a part  of  Warwick- 
shire, Staffordshire,  and  Shropshire.  He  did  not,  however, 
proceed  further  north  with  Mr.  Wesley,  at  that  time,  but 
stopped  at  Madeley,  for  reasons  which  he  mentioned  to  me 
in  the  following  letter,  written  soon  after  : — 

‘ My  Dear  Brother, — I would  have  answered  your  letter  before 
now,  had  I not  been  overdone  with  writing.  I have  just  concluded  an 
answer  to  Mr.  Evans  and  Dr.  Price ; a work  which  I have  undertaken 
with  a desire  to  serve  the  cause  of  religion,  as  well  as  that  of  loyalty. 
This  work  has  prevented  me  from  following  Mr.  Wesley.  Besides,  as 
the  clergyman  who  is  here  with  me  (a  student  from  Edmund  HalP), 
has  just  accepted  a place  near  Manchester,  I shall  still  be  without  a 
curate. 

' I see  so  little  fruit  in  these  parts  that  I am  almost  disheartened, 
both  with  respect  to  the  power  of  the  Word,  and  the  experience  of  the 


^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Wesley’s  Journal. 

^ The  College,  at  Oxford,  to  which  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  had 
been  accustomed  to  send  godly  young  men,  to  prepare  them  for  Orders, 
and  from  which  six  of  her  students  had  been  expelled,  in  1768. 


358 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


professors  I converse  with.  I am  closely  followed  with  the  thought  that 
the  kingdom  in  the  Holy  Ghost  is  almost  lost ; and  that  faith  in  the 
dispensation  of  the  Spirit  is  at  a very  low  ebb.  But  it  may  be,  I think 
so  on  account  of  my  little  experience,  and  the  weakness  of  the  faith  of 
those  whom  I meet.  It  may  be  better  in  all  other  places.  I shall  be 
glad  to  travel  a little  to  see  the  goodness  of  the  land.  God  deliver  us 
from  all  extremes,  and  make  and  keep  us  humble,  loving,  disinterested, 
and  zealous  ! I preached,  before  Mr.  Greaves  came,  as  much  as  my 
strength  could  well  admit,  although  to  little  purpose  ; but  I must  not 
complain.  If  one  person  receive  a good  desire  in  ten  years,  by  my 
instrumentality,  it  is  a greater  honour  than  I deserve — an  honour  for 
which  I could  not  be  too  thankful.  Let  us  bless  the  Lord  for  all  things. 
We  have  reasons  innumerable  to  do  it.  Bless  Him  on  my  account,  as 
well  as  your  own  ; and  the  God  of  peace  be  with  you.’  ” * 

Before  proceeding  further,  it  may  be  added,  that  Joseph 
Benson  doubted  the  propriety  of  Wesley  and  Fletcher  turning 
their  attention  to  politics.  In  an  unpublished  letter,  dated 
‘‘  Newcastle,  May  21,  1776,’'  he  wrote  : — 

‘‘These  are  ‘ perilous  times’  indeed,  and  threaten  to  be  more  perilous 
still.  You  see  what  a famous  politician  our  friend  Fletcher  is  become. 
Though  I exceedingly  approve  both  of  the  ‘ Calm  Address  ’ and  its 
‘Vindication,’  I fear  these  subjects  only  detain  the  authors  from  more 
valuable  and  important  work.  We  expected  Mr.  Fletcher  here  along 
with  Mr.  Wesley;  but  I understand,  by  a letter  from  him  yesterday, 
that  he  has  been  prevented,  by  his  having  to  answer  Dr.  Price  and 
Mr.  Evans.  And  there  is  more  work  for  him  still.  A friend  of  ours,  in 
London,  has  sent  Mr.  Cownley  and  me  a pamphlet,  which,  in  some 
important  points,  takes  Mr.  Fletcher’s  ‘Vindication’  thoroughly  to 
pieces.  I fear  he  wilt  find  it  no  easy  thing  to  reply  to  some  of  its 
arguments.  As  for  Price,  his  ideas  of  liberty  are  beyond  measure 
extravagant ; and  Mr.  Fletcher  and  Mr.  Wesley  will  find  it  no  very 
difficult  matter  to  reply  to  him.  But,  the  principal  thing  to  be  thought, 
talked,  and  wrote  about,  is  the  baptism  of  the  Spirit ^ or  the  inward 
kmgdom  of  God.  Oh  ! my  friend,  this  is  but  little  known  among  us  ! ” 

To  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Vaughan,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

“Madeley,  March  21,  1776. 

“ Dear  Sir, — Your  barrel  of  cider  came  safe  to  hand.  How  could 
you  think  to  make  me  such  a present  ? But  I must  rather  thank  you 
for  your  love  and  generosity,  than  scold  you  for  your  excessive  profusion. 
You  should  have  stayed  till  cider  was  ten  shillings  a hogshead,  but  in 
such  a year  as  this — ! However,  the  Lord  reward  you,  and  return  it  to 
you,  in  streams  of  living  water,  and  plenty  of  the  wine  of  His  kingdom  ! 


Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  46.] 


Another  Work  for  the  Press, 


359 


I thought  I should  soon  have  done  with  controversy;  but  now  I 
give  up  the  hope  of  having  done  with  it  before  I die.  There  are  three 
sorts  of  people  I must  continually  attack,  or  defend  myself  against — 
Gallios,  Pharisees,  and  Antinomians.  I hope  I shall  die  in  harness 
fighting  against  some  of  them.  I do  not,  however,  forget,  that  the 
Gallio,  the  Simon,  and  the  Nicholas  within^  are  far  more  dangerous  to 
me  than  those  without.  In  my  own  heart,  that  immense  field,  I must 
first  the  Lord’s  battles  and  my  own.  Help  me  here  ; join  me  in 
this  field.  All  Christians  are  here  militia-men,  if  they  are  not  professed 
soldiers.  O,  my  friend,  I need  wisdom — meekness  of  wisdom  ! A 
heart  full  of  it  is  better  than  all  your  cider  vault  full  of  the  most  generous 
liquors  ; and  it  is  in  Christ  for  us.  O ! go  and  ask  for  you  and  me  ; 
and  I shall  ask  for  me  and  you.  May  we  not  be  ashamed,  nor  afraid 
to  come,  and  beg  every  moment  for  wine  and  milk — grace  and  wisdom ! 

Beware,  my  friend,  of  the  world.  Let  not  its  cares,  nor  the  deceit- 
fulness of  its  riches,  keep  or  draw  you  from  Jesus.  Before  you  handle 
the  birdlime,  be  sure  you  dip  your  heart  and  hand  in  the  oil  of  grace. 
Time  flies.  Years  of  plenty  and  of  scarcity,  of  peace  and  war,  disappear 
before  the  eternity  to  which  we  are  all  hastening. 

‘‘  Remember  me  kindly  to  Mrs.  Vaughan.  That  the  Lord  would 
abundantly  bless  you  both,  in  your  souls,  bodies,  concerns,  and  children, 
is  the  sincere  wish  of  your  affectionate  friend, 

''J.  Fletcher.”* 

The  following  letter,  to  Charles  Wesley,  refers,  among 
other  things,  to  another  of  Fletcher’s  publications,  which  has 
yet  to  be  noticed  : — 

''Madeley,  May  ii,  1776. 

‘^My  Dear  Brother, — What  are  you  doing  in  London?  Are  you 
ripening  as  fast  for  the  grave  as  I am  ? How  should  we  lay  out  every 
moment  for  God  ! For  some  days,  I have  had  the  symptoms  of  an  inward 
consumptive  decay — spitting  of  blood,  etc.  Thank  God  ! I look  at 
our  last  enemy  with  great  calmness.  I hope,  however,  that  the  Lord 
will  spare  me  to  publish  my  end  of  the  controversy,  which  is  A Double 
Dissertation  upon  the  Doctrines  of  Grace  and  Justice.  This  piece 
will,  I flatter  myself,  reconcile  all  the  candid  Calvinists  and  candid 
Arminians,  and  be  a means  of  pointing  out  the  way  in  which  peace  and 
harmony  may  be  restored  to  the  Church. 

I still  look  for  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  inwardly  and  outwardly. 
Should  I die  before  that  great  day,  I shall  have  the  consolation  to  see 
it  from  afar.  Thank  God  ! I enjoy  uninterrupted  peace  in  the  midst  of 
my  trials,  which  are,  sometimes,  not  a few.  Joy  also  I possess  ; but  I 
look  for  joy  of  a superior  nature.  I feel  myself,  in  a good  degree,  dead 
to  praise  and  dispraise : I hope,  at  least,  that  it  is  so ; because  I do 
not  feel  that  the  one  lifts  me  up,  or  that  the  other  dejects  me.  I want 


Letters,  1791,  p.  229. 


36o 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


to  see  a Pentecost  Christian  Church  ; and,  if  it  is  not  to  be  seen  at  this 
time  upon  earth,  I am  willing  to  go  and  see  that  glorious  wonder  in 
heaven.  How  is  it  with  you  ? Are  you  ready  to  seize  the  crown  in  the 
name  of  the  Redeemer  reigning  in  your  heart  ? We  run  a race  towards 
the  grave.  John  is  likely  to  outrun  you,  unless  you  have  a swift  foot. 

I had  lately  a letter  from  one  of  the  preachers,  who  finds  great  fault 
with  me,  for  having  published,  in  my  book  on  Perfection,  your  hymn 
called  The  Last  Wish,  He  calls  it  dangerous  mysticism.  Mg  private 
thoughts  are,  that  the  truth  lies  between  driving  Methodism  and  still 
mysticism.  What  think  you  ? Read  the  addresses  which  I have  added 
to  that  piece,  and  tell  me  your  thoughts. 

Let  us  pray  that  God  would  renew  our  youth,  as  that  of  the  eagle, 
that  we  may  bear  fruit  in  our  old  age.  I hope  I shall  see  you  before 
my  death  : if  not,  let  us  rejoice  at  the  thought  of  meeting  in  heaven.”  ^ 

The  censured  hymn  was  the  following  , — 

“ To  do,  or  not  to  do  ; to  have. 

Or  not  to  have,  I leave  to  Thee  : 

To  be,  or  not  to  be,  I leave  : 

Thy  only  will  be  done  in  me. 

All  my  requests  are  lost  in  one  : 

Father,  Thy  only  will  be  done. 

Suffice  that,  for  the  season  past. 

Myself  in  things  Divine  I sought. 

For  comforts  cried  with  eager  haste. 

And  murmur’d  that  I found  them  not : 

I leave  it  now  to  Thee  alone. 

Father,  Thy  only  will  be  done. 

Thy  gifts  I clamour  for  no  more. 

Or  selfishly  Thy  grace  require, 

An  evil  heart  to  varnish  o’er ; 

Jesus,  the  Giver,  I desire ; 

After  the  flesh  no  longer  known  : 

Father,  Thy  only  will  be  done. 

‘‘  Welcome  alike  the  crown  or  cross  ; 

Trouble  I cannot  ask,  nor  peace. 

Nor  toil,  nor  rest,  nor  gain,  nor  loss. 

Nor  joy,  nor  grief,  nor  pain,  nor  ease, 

Nor  life,  nor  death  ; but  ever  groan. 

Father,  Thy  only  will  be  done.” 

This  was  what  Wesley's  ItinerantPreacher  called  dangerous 
mysticism/'  and  Fletcher,  “.r//// mysticism."  Whether  Fletcher 


Letters,  1791,  p.  231. 


Age  46.] 


Driving  Methodism^ 


361 


himself  experienced  this  ‘‘  destruction  of  self-will/’  and 
“ absolute  resignation,  which  characterises  a perfect  believer,” 
it  is  difficult  to  determine  ; but  it  may  safely  be  affirmed 
that  he  was  struggling  to  attain  to  such  a state  of  holiness. 
‘‘  This  hymn/’  said  he,  ‘‘  suits  all  the  believers  who  are  at  the 
bottom  of  Mount  Sion,  and  begin  to  join  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect.”  And  then,  as  a specimen  of  what  he 
calls  ‘‘  driving  Methodism,”  he  adds  : — 

But  when  the  triumphal  chariot  of  perfect  love  gloriously  carries  you 
to  the  top  of  perfection's  hill ; — when  you  are  raised  far  above  the  common 
heights  of  the  perfect, — ^when  you  are  almost  translated  into  glory  like 
Elijah,  then  you  may  sing  another  hymn  of  the  same  Christian  poet” 
(Charles  Wesley)  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Madan,  and  the  numerous  body 
of  imperfectionists  who  use  his  collection  of  Psalms,  etc.” 

This,  of  course,  was  a quiet  satire  on  Martin  Madan  and 
his  Calvinistic  congregation  ; but,  passing  that,  the  “ driving 
hymn  was  as  follows  : — 

Who  in  Jesus  confide, 

They  are  bold  to  outride 
The  storms  of  affliction  beneath  : 

With  the  prophet  they  soar 
To  that  heavenly  shore. 

And  out-fly  all  the  arrows  of  death. 

^ ‘ By  faith  we  are  come 
To  OMX  ^permanent  home  ; 

By  hope  we  the  rapture  improve  : 

By  love  we  still  rise^ 

And  look  down  on  the  skies — • 

For  the  heaven  of  heavens  is  love  / 

“Who  on  earth  can  conceive 
How  happy  we  live 
In  the  city  of  God  the  great  King  ! 

What  a concert  of  praise. 

When  our  Jesus’s  grace 
The  whole  heavenly  company  sing  ! 

“ What  a rapturous  song. 

When  the  glorified  throng 
In  the  spirit  of  harmony  join  ! 

Join  all  the  glad  choirs, 

Hearts,  voices,  and  lyres. 

And  the  burden  is  mercy  divine  ! ” ' 


^ Fletcher’s  “ Last  Check  to  Antinomianism,”  p.  323. 


362 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


Why  these  long  quotations  ? Simply  to  show  that  real 
Christian  Perfection  is,  according  to  the  private  thoughts 
of  Fletcher,  one  of  the  holiest  of  the  old  Methodists,  a some- 
thing that  ‘‘  lies  between  ''  the  driving  Methodism  and  still 
mysticism''  embodied  in  the  two  remarkable  hymns  just 
cited. 

Soon  after  the  date  of  the  last  letter  (May  i i,  1776) 
Fletcher’s  health  so  entirely  failed,  that  he  was  compelled 
to  leave  his  parish  and  repair  to  the  hot  wells  at  Bristol. 
His  friend,  Charles  Wesley,  on  June  30,  embodied  the 
feelings  of  his  full  heart  in  the  following  touching  hymn  : — 

‘‘Jesus,  Thy  feeble  servant  see  ! 

Sick  is  the  man  beloved  by  Thee  : 

Thy  name  to  magnify, 

To  spread  Thy  Gospel-truths  again. 

His  precious  soul  in  life  detain. 

Nor  suffer  him  to  die. 

“ The  fervent  prayer  Thou  oft  hast  heard. 

Thy  glorious  arm  in  mercy  bared  ; 

Thy  wonder-working  power 
Appear’d  in  all  Thy  people’s  sight. 

And  stopp’d  the  Spirit  in  its  flight, 

Or  bade  the  grave  restore. 

“ In  faith  we  ask  a fresh  reprieve  : 

Frequent  in  deaths  he  still  shall  live, 

If  Thou  pronounce  the  word  ; 

Shall  spend  for  Thee,  his  strength  renew’d. 

Witness  of  the  all-cleansing  blood, 

Forerunner  of  his  Lord. 

“ The  Spirit  that  raised  Thee  from  the  dead, 

Be  in  its  quick’ning  virtue  shed. 

His  mortal  flesh  to  raise. 

To  consecrate  Thy  human  shrine. 

And  fill  with  energy  divine 
Thy  minister  of  grace. 

“ Body  and  soul  at  once  revive  ; 

The  prayer  of  faith  in  which  we  strive, 

So  shall  we  all  proclaim, 

According  to  Thy  gracious  will, 

Omnipotent  the  sick  to  heal, 

From  age  to  age  the  same.”  ^ 


Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  1835,  p.  576. 


Age  46.  ] 


Michael  Onions, 


363 


Fifteen  years  ago  fsoon  after  he  came  to  Madeley),  at 
Christmas  time,  in  a dark  night,  Fletcher,  on  the  top  of 
Lincoln-hill  woods,  was  at  a loss  which  way  to  take  to  reach 
his  vicarage  at  Madeley.  Providentially,  he  met  a working 
man  of  Coalbrookdale,  Michael  Onions  by  name,  who  was 
on  his  way  to  Broseley  to  fetch  a fiddler  for  a dancing  party 
in  Michael’s  house.  Pdetcher  told  him  he  had  lost  his  road 
to  Madeley,  and  asked  him  to  put  him  right.  Good-tem- 
pered Michael  went  half-a-mile  out  of  his  way  to  render  the 
muffled  stranger  the  necessary  guidance.  Conversation 
ensued  ; Michael  explained  the  object  of  his  journey  to 
Broseley  ; Pdetcher  warned  him  of  his  sin  and  danger ; 
Michael  became  alarmed,  and,  instead  of  proceeding  to 
]h*oseley  to  secure  the  services  of  the  fiddler,  returned  to  his 
dwelling  at  Coalbrookdale.  On  his  entering,  the  assembled 
dancers  asked,  Have  you  brought  the  fiddler  ” ‘‘No,” 

said  Michael.  “ Is  he  not  at  home } ” “ I don’t  know.” 

“Have  you  not  been  to  Broseley.^”  “No.”  “ Why 

What’s  the  matter  ? You  look  ill,  and  are  all  of  a tremble.” 
Michael  then  stated  that  he  had  met  some  one  on  the  top 
of  Lincoln-hill  woods  ; but  whether  man  or  angel  he  knew 
not  ; and,  after  relating  the  conversation  between  them, 
added,  “ I dare  not  go  to  Broseley — I would  not  for  the 
world.”  Next  Sunday  morning,  Michael  and  some  of  his 
dancing  friends  went  to  Madeley  church  ; and  there,  in  the 
voice  of  Idetcher,  he  recognized  the  mysterious  traveller 
he  had  met  with  on  Lincoln-hill.  Michael  was  converted, 
and  became  one  of  the  first  Methodists  in  Coalbrookdale.^ 
To  this  humble,  but  faithful  Christian  friend,  and  to  his 
fellow  Methodists,  Fletcher  now  wrote  as  follows  : — 

^'Bristol,  July  ii,  1776. 

“ My  Dear  Brother, — Having  just  seen,  at  the  Wells,  Mr.  Darby, 
who  is  going  back  to  the  Dale,  1 gladly  seize  the  opportunity  of  letting 
you  know  what  the  Lord  is  doing  for  my  soul  and  body. 

“With  respect  to  my  soul,  J feel  a degree  of  righteousness,  peace, 
and  joy,  and  wait  for  the  establishment  of  His  internal  kingdom  in  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  hope  of  my  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  love, 
that  casts  out  slavish  fear,  grows  more  lively  every  day.  I am  not 


Wesleyan  Times ^ March  3,  1856,  p.  138. 


364 


M^es/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


afraid  of  any  evil  tidings,  and  my  heart  stands  calm,  believing  in  the 
Lord,  and  desiring  Him  to  do  with  me  whatsoever  He  pleaseth. 

With  respect  to  my  body,  I know  not  what  to  say  ; but  the  physician 
says  he  hopes  I shall  do  well ; and  so  I hope,  and  believe  too,  whether 
I recover  my  strength  or  not.  Health  and  sickness,  life  and  death,  are 
best  when  the  Lord  sends  them.  All  things  work  together  for  good  to 
those  that  love  God. 

I am  forbid  preaching;  but,  blessed  be  God!  I am  not  forbid,  by 
my  heavenly  Physician,  to  pray,  believe,  and  love.  This  is  a sweet 
work,  which  heals,  delights,  and  strengthens. 

“ I hope  you  bear  me  on  your  hearts,  as  I do  you  on  mine.  My  wish 
for  you  is  that  you  may  be  possessors  of  an  inward  kingdom  of  grace  ; 
that  you  may  so  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness  as  to  be  filled. 
Oh  I be  hearty  in  the  cause  of  religion.  Be  humbly  zealous  for  your 
own  salvation,  and  for  God’s  glory ; nor  forget  to  care  for  the  salvation 
of  each  other.  Keep  yourselves  in  the  love  of  God ; and  keep  one 
another  by  example^  reproof , exhortation^  encouragement,  social 
grayer,  and  a faithful  use  of  all  the  means  of  grace.  Use  yourselves 
to  bow  at  the  feet  of  Christ.  Go  to  Him  continually  for  the  holy 
anointing  of  His  Spirit,  who  will  be  a Teacher  always  near,  always  with 
you  and  in  you.  If  you  have  that  inward  Instructor,  you  will  suffer  no 
material  loss  when  your  outward  teachers  are  removed.  Make  the  most 
of  dear  Mr.  Greaves  ^ while  you  have  him.  While  you  have  the  light  of 
God’s  word,  believe  in  the  light,  that  you  may  be  children  of  the  light, 
fitted  for,  the  kingdom  of  eternal  light,  where  I charge  you  to  meet  your 
affectionate  brother  and  minister, 

J.  Fletcher.”  ^ 

To  Charles  Perronet,  son  of  the  venerable  Vicar  of  Shore- 
ham,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

Bristol,  July  12,  1776. 

My  Very  Dear  Brother, — I gladly  thank  you  for  your  last 
favour.  The  Lord  keeps  me  hanging  by  a thread.  He  weighs  me  in 
the  balance  for  life  and  death  ; I trust  Him  for  the  choice.  He  knows, 
far  better  than  I,  what  is  best ; and  I leave  all  to  His  unerring  wisdom. 
I am  calm,  and  wait,  with  submission,  for  what  the  Lord  will  say 
concerning  me.  I wait  to  be  baptized  into  all  His  fulness,  and  trust 
the  word — the  word  of  His  grace''  ^ 

Exactly  a month  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  holy  Charles 
Perronet  himself  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  ‘‘ My  dear  Charles,” 
wrote  his  venerable  father,  “ after  wearing  out  a weakly  con- 
stitution in  the  most  unwearied  endeavours  to  bring  many  to 


^ Who  had  again  become  Fletcher’s  curate. 
^ Letters,  1791,  p.  14. 

^ Ibid,  p.  231. 


Age  46.] 


Letters  to  Mr,  Ireland, 


365 


Christ,  breathed  out  his  pious  soul  in  the  remarkable  words 
of  his  dear  Lord,  ‘ Father,  into  Thy  hands  I commend  my 
spirit.'  " ‘‘  I have  uninterrupted  fellowship  with  God,"  cried 
the  dying  saint ; and  Christ  is  all  in  all  to  me."^  As  soon 
as  Fletcher  heard  of  the  death  of  this  godly  man,  he  wrote 
to  the  bereaved  father  as  follows  : — 

Methinks  I see  you,  right  honoured  Sir,  mounted,  as  another  Moses, 
on  the  top  of  Pisgah,  and  through  the  telescope  of  faith  descrying  the 
promised  land  ; or,  rather,  in  the  present  instance,  I observe  you,  like 
another  Joshua,  on  the  banks  of  Jordan,  viewing  all  Israel,  with  your 
son  among  them,  passing  over  the  river  to  their  great  possessions. 
Permit  me,  therefore,  in  consideration  of  your  years  and  office,  to 
exclaim,  in  the  language  of  young  Elisha  to  his  ancient  seer,  ^ My 
father  ! My  father ! The  chariots  of  Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof.’ 

“ ‘ There,  there  they  are,  and  there  is  your  son  ! 

Whom  faith  pursues,  and  eager  hope  discerns, 

In  yon  bright  chariot,  as  a cherub  borne 
On  wings  of  love,  to  uncreated  realms 
Of  deathless  joy,  and  everlasting  peace.’  ” * 

On  the  day  Charles  Perronet  died,  Wesley  was  in  Bristol, 
and  wrote  : — 

1776.  August  12. — I found  Mr.  Fletcher  a little  better,  and  proposed 
his  taking  a journey  with  me  to  Cornwall ; nothing  being  so  likely  to 
restore  his  health  as  a journey  of  four  or  five  hundred  miles.  But  his 
physician  would  in  no  wise  consent,  so  I gave  up  the  point.”  ^ 

Instead  of  going  to  Cornwall  Fletcher  returned  to  Madeley, 
where  he  wrote  two  letters  to  his  friend,  James  Ireland,  Esq, 
from  which  the  following  are  extracts  : — 

Madeley,  August  18,  1776.  My  breast  is  very  weak,  but,  if  it  please 
God,  it  will  in  time  recover  strength.  Mr.  Greaves  will  take  all  the 
duty  upon  himself,  and  I shall  continue  to  take  rest,  exercise,  and  the 
food  which  was  recommended  to  me.  The  Lord  grant  me  to  rest  myself 
on  Christ,  to  exercise  myself  in  charity,  and  to  feed  upon  the  bread  of 
life,  which  God  has  given  us  in  Jesus  Christ. 

“ I thank  you,  my  dear  friend,  for  all  your  favours  and  all  your  atten- 
tion to  me.  What  returns  shall  I make  ? I will  drink  the  cup  of  thanks- 
giving, and  I will  bless  the  name  of  the  Lord.  I will  thank  my  dear 
friend  and  wish  him  all  the  temporal  blessings  he  conferred  upon  me. 


Atmore’s  Methodist  Memorial.” 
Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 
Wesley’s  Journal. 


366 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


and  all  those  spiritual  ones  which  were  not  in  his  power  to  bestow.  Live 
in  health  ; live  piously  ; live  content ; live  in  Christ ; live  for  eternity  ; 
live  to  make  your  wife,  your  children,  your  servants,  your  neighbours 
happy.  And  may  the  God  of  all  grace  give  back  a hundredfold  to  you 
and  your  dear  wife  all  the  kindnesses  with  which  you  have  loaded  me.”  ' 
‘‘Madeley,  August  24,  1776.  My  dear  friend,  I have  received  the 
news  of  your  loss,  and  of  the  gain  of  your  younger  daughter.  She  has 
entered  into  port,  and  has  left  you  on  a tempestuous  sea.  I recommend 
to  Mrs.  Ireland  the  resignation  of  David  when  he  lost  his  son ; and  do 
you  give  her  the  example.  The  day  of  death  is  preferable  to  that  of  our 
birth  ; with  respect  to  infants,  the  maxim  of  Solomon  is  indubitable. 

0 what  an  honour  is  it  to  be  the  father  and  mother  of  a little  cherub 
who  hovers  round  the  throne  of  God  in  heavenly  glory  ! 

Roquet^  dead  and  buried  ! The  jolly  man  who  last  summer  shook 
his  head  at  me  as  at  a dying  man  ! How  frail  are  we  ! God  help  us  to 
live  to-day  I to-morrow  is  the  fool’s  day. 

I have  not,  at  present,  the  least  idea  that  I am  called  to  quit  my 
post  here.  I see  no  probability  of  being  useful  in  Switzerland.  My  call 
is  here  ; I am  sure  of  it.  If  I undertook  the  journey,  it  would  be  merely 
to  accompany  you.  I dare  not  gratify  friendship  by  taking  such  a step. 

1 have  no  faith  in  the  prescriptions  of  your  physician  ; and  I think  if 
health  be  better  for  us  than  sickness,  we  may  enjoy  it  as  well  here  as  in 
France  or  Italy.  If  sickness  be  best  for  us,  why  shun  it  ? Everything 
is  good  when  it  comes  from  God.  Nothing  but  a baptism  of  fire  and 
the  most  evident  openings  of  Providence  can  engage  me  in  such  a 
journey.  If  I reject  your  obliging  offer  to  procure  me  a substitute, 
attribute  it  to  my  fear  of  taking  a false  step,  of  quitting  my  post  without 
command,  and  of  engaging  in  a warfare  to  which  the  Lord  does  not 
call  me.”  * 

A fortnight  later,  Fletcher  wrote  again  to  Mr.  Ireland: — 

“ Madeley,  September  7,  1776.  My  dear  friend,  my  health  is  better 
than  when  I wrote  last.  I have  not  yet  preached ; rather  from  a sense 
of  duty  to  my  friends,  and  high  thoughts  of  the  labours  of  Mr.  Greaves 
(who  does  the  work  of  an  evangelist  to  better  purpose  than  I),  than  to 
spare  myself ; for,  if  I am  not  mistaken,  I am  as  able  to  do  my  work 
now  as  I was  a year  ago. 

‘‘A  fortnight  ago,  I paid  a visit  to  West  Bromwich.  I ran  away 
from  the  kindness  of  my  parishioners,  who  oppressed  me  with  tokens  of 
their  love.  To  me  there  is  nothing  so  extremely  trying  as  excessive 
kindness.  I am  of  the  king’s  mind  when  the  people  showed  their  love 
to  him  on  his  journey  to  Portsmouth:  ‘ I can  bear,’  he  said,  ‘the  hissings 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  232. 

The  Rev.  James  Roquet,  who,  in  1775,  had  turned  against  his  old 
friend  Wesley  respecting  the  rebellion  in  America. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  234. 


Age  47.] 


Letter  to  Charles  Wesley. 


367 


of  a London  mob,  but  these  shouts  of  joy  are  too  much  for  me.’  You, 
my  dear  friend,  Mrs.  Ireland,  Mrs.  Norman,  and  all  your  family,  have 
put  me  to  that  severe  trial,  to  which  all  trials  caused  by  the  hard  words 
that  have  been  spoken  against  me  are  nothing. 

‘‘At  our  age,  a recovery  can  be  but  a short  reprieve.  Let  us  then 
give  up  ourselves  daily  to  the  Lord,  as  people  who  have  no  confidence 
in  the  fiesh,  and  do  not  trust  to  to-morrow.  I find  my  weakness,  un- 
profitableness, and  wretchedness  daily  more  and  more ; and  the  more 
I find  them,  the  more  help  I have  to  sink  into  self- abhorrence.  Nor  do 
I despair  to  sink  so  in  it  as  to  die  to  self  and  revive  in  my  God.”  ^ 

Fletcher  began  to  hope  that  he  would  soon  be  able  to 
resume  his  work.  To  Charles  Wesley  he  wrote  as  follows: — 

“Madeley,  Se;ptember  15,  1776. 

“ My  Very  Dear  Brother, — I lately  consulted  a pious  gentleman, 
near  Lichfield,  famous  for  his  skill  in  the  disorders  of  the  breast.  He 
assured  me  I am  in  no  immediate  danger  of  a consumption  of  the  lungs ; 
and  that  my  disorder  is  upon  the  nerves,  in  consequence  of  too  close 
thinking.  He  permitted  me  to  write  and  preach  in  moderation  ; and 
gave  me  medicines,  which,  I think,  are  of  service  in  taking  off  my 
feverish  heats.  My  spitting  of  blood  is  stopped,  and  I may  yet  be 
spared  to  travel  with  you  as  an  invalid. 

“ If  God  adds  one  inch  to  my  span  I see  my  calling.  I desire  to 
know  nothing  but  Christ,  and  Him  crucified,  revealed  in  the  Spirit.  I 
long  to  feel  the  utmost  jbower  oi  the  Spirit’s  dispensation,  and  I will 
endeavour  to  bear  my  testimony  to  the  glory  of  that  dispensation  both 
with  my  pen  and  tongue.  Some  of  our  injudicious  or  inattentive  friends 
w'ill  probably  charge  me  with  novelty  for  it ; but,  be  that  as  it  will,  let 
us  meekly  stand  for  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  trust  the  Lord  for 
everything.  I thank  God  I feel  so  dead  to  popular  applause  that,  I 
trust,  I should  not  be  afraid  to  maintain  a truth  against  all  the  world  ; 
and  yet  I dread  to  dissent  from  any  child  of  God,  and  feel  ready  to  con- 
descend to  every  one.  O what  depths  of  humble  love,  and  what  heights 
of  Gospel  truth,  do  I sometimes  see  ! I want  to  sink  into  the  former  and 
rise  into  the  latter.  Help  me  by  your  example,  letters,  and  prayers.”  ^ 

At  the  same  period  of  time,  Fletcher  wrote  to  Joseph 
Benson,  giving  him  an  account  of  the  state  of  his  health  and 
of  his  literary  projects. 

“My  Very  Dear  Brother,— Your  kind  letter  has  followed  me 
from  Bristol  to  Madeley,  where  I have  been  for  some  weeks.  My  health 
is  better  than  it  was  in  August,  but  it  is  far  from  being  established. 
Close  thinking  and  writing  had  brought  upon  me  a slow  fever,  with  a 


368  Wesley^ s Designated  Successor.  [1776. 


cough  and  spitting  of  blood,  which  a physician  took  for  symptoms  of  a 
consumption  of  the  lungs  ; whereas  they  were  only  symptoms  of  a con- 
sumption of  the  nerves  and  solids.  He  put  me  accordingly  upon  the 
lowest  diet,  and  had  me  blooded  four  times,  which  made  much  against 
me.  I am,  however,  greatly  recovered  since  I have  begun  to  eat  meat 
again.  My  cough  and  spitting  of  blood  have  left  me,  but  want  of  sleep 
and  a slow  fever  keep  me  still  very  low.  If  the  Lord  pleases,  He  can 
in  a moment  restore  my  strength  ; but  He  needs  not  a worm.  I thank 
Him  for  having  kept  me  perfectly  resigned  to  His  will,  and  calm  in  the 
awful  scene  which  I have  passed  through. 

''  I design  to  conclude  my  last  controversial  piece  as  I shall  be  able, 
and  hope  it  will  give  my  friends  some  satisfaction  ; because  it  will  show 
the  cause  of  all  our  doctrinal  errors,  and  will  place  the  doctrine  of 
election  and  reprobation  upon  its  proper  basis.  I finish  also  my  essay 
on  the  ‘ Dispensation  of  the  Spirit,'  ^ which  is  the  thing  I want  most  to 
see  your  thoughts  upon.  Pray  for  light  and  power,  truth  and  love  ; and 
impart  to  me  a share  of  your  experiences,  to  quicken  my  dulness  of 
apprehension  and  feeling.  If  God  spare  me  a little,  it  will  be  to  bear 
my  testimony  to  the  doctrine  of  perfect  spiritual  Christianity.  May  we 
be  personal  witnesses  of  this  glorious  dispensation,  and  be  so  inflamed 
with  love  as  to  kindle  all  around  us. 

‘‘  Give  my  kind  love  and  thanks  to  all  enquiring  friends.  If  I live 
over  the  winter,  I shall,  should  Providence  open  the  way,  visit  you  all  " 
[at  Newcastle-on-Tyne],  and  assure  you  that  I am  in  Christ  your 
affectionate  brother  and  servant.”  ^ 

Three  weeks  after  the  date  of  these  letters,  poor  Fletcher's 
hope  of  recovery  was  terribly  shaken.  On  October  5,  1776, 
his  disorder  unexpectedly  and  violently  returned,  and  his 
friends  around  him  thought  he  was  about  to  die.  Some  one, 
perhaps  his  curate,  Mr.  Greaves,  immediately  improvised  a 
beautiful  hymn,  which  was  sung,  by  a distressed  congregation, 
in  Madeley  church,  on  the  following  day,  Friday,  October  6. 
The  hymn  is  too  full  of  affection  and  piety  to  be  omitted. 
It  was  as  follows  : — 

O Thou,  before  whose  gracious  throne 
We  bow  our  suppliant  spirits  down, 

View  the  sad  breast  and  streaming  eye. 

And  let  our  sorrows  pierce  the  sky. 

Thou  know'st  the  anxious  cares  we  feel. 

And  all  our  trembling  lips  would  tell ; 


* This  essay  w^as  not  published  separately,  but  was  probably  embodied 
in  the  Portrait  of  St.  Paul,”  to  be  noticed  anon. 

^ Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  47.] 


Improvised  Hymn, 


369 


Thou  only  canst  assuage  our  grief, 

And  yield  our  woe-fraught  hearts  relief. 

“ Though  we  have  sinned,  and  justly  dread 
The  vengeance  hovering  o’er  our  head. 

Yet,  Power  benign  ! Thy  servant  spare. 

Nor  turn  aside  Thy  people’s  prayer. 

‘"Avert  the  swift-descending  stroke. 

Nor  smite  the  shepherd  of  the  flock  ; 

^ Lest  o’er  the  barren  waste  we  stray. 

To  prowling  wolves  an  easy  prey. 

Restore  him,  sinking  to  the  grave  ; 

Stretch  out  Thy  arm,  make  haste  to  save  ; 

Back  to  our  hopes  and  wishes  give, 

And  bid  our  friend  and  father  live. 

Bound  to  each  soul  with  sacred  ties. 

In  every  breast  his  image  lies  ; 

Thy  pitying  aid,  O God,  impart. 

Nor  rend  him  from  each  bleeding  heart. 

‘"Yet,  if  our  supplications  fail. 

And  prayers  and  tears  cannot  prevail. 

Condemned,  on  this  dark  desert  coast. 

To  mourn  our  much-loved  leader  lost, — 

""  Be  Thou  his  strength,  be  Thou  his  stay, 

Support  him  through  the  gloomy  way ; 

Comfort  his  soul,  surround  his  bed. 

And  guide  him  through  the  dreary  shade. 

" " Around  him  may  Thy  angels  wait. 

Deck’d  with  their  robes  of  heavenly  state, 

To  teach  his  happy  soul  to  rise. 

And  waft  him  to  his  native  skies.”  ^ 

As  soon  as  possible,  Wesley  made  his  way  to  Madeley, 
and  escorted  Fletcher  to  London.  On  November  13,  they 
set  out  for  Norwich,  and  nine  days  afterwards  Wesley 
wrote,  “ I brought  Mr.  Fletcher  back  to  London  consider- 
ably better  than  when  he  set  out.’'  Among  other  places, 
they  visited  Lowestoft,  where  Wesley  opened  the  new 
Preaching-house,  and  where  Fletcher  preached  on  Wednes- 


The  Local  Preacher^ s Magazine,  1852,  p.  113. 

24 


370 


TVes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


day  morning,  November  20}  Whilst  here,  he  wrote  the 
following  to  Mr.  Benson  : — 


^‘Lowestoft,  November  21,  1776. 

My  Dear  Friend, — Mr.  Wesley  having  invited  me  to  travel  with 
him,  to  see  if  change  of  air  and  motion  will  be  a means  of  restoring  me 
to  a share  of  my  former  health,  I have  accompanied  him  through 
Oxfordshire,  Northamptonshire,  and  Norfolk  ; and  I hope  I am  rather 
better  than  worse.  I find  it  good  to  be  with  this  extraordinary  servant 
of  God.  I think  his  diligence  and  wisdom  are  matchless.  It  is  a good 
school  for  me,  only  I am  too  old  a scholar  to  make  proficiency.  How- 
ever, let  us  live  to  God  to-day,  and  trust  Him  for  to-morrow;  so  that, 
whether  we  are  laid  up  in  a sick  bed  or  a damp  grave,  or  whether  we 
are  yet  able  to  act,  we  may  be  able  to  say, 

' God  is  the  sea  of  love. 

Where  all  my  pleasures  roll, 

The  circle  where  my  passions  move. 

And  centre  of  my  soul.’  ” ^ 

Another  characteristic  letter  must  be  introduced.  Certain 
good  Methodists  at  Hull  and  York  having  invited  him,  when 
able,  to  visit  the  great  Methodist  county,  Fletcher  wrote  to 
them  as  follows  : — 

''To  Messrs.  Hare,  Terry,  Fox,  and  Good,  at  Hull; — and  Messrs. 
Preston,  Simpson,  and  Ramsden,  at  York. 

"London,  November  12,  1776. 

" My  Dear  Brethren, — I thank  you  for  your  kind  letters  and  invi- 
tations to  visit  you,  and  the  brethren  about  you.  I have  often  found  an 
attraction  in  Yorkshire.  My  desire  was  indeed  a little  selfish  ; I wanted 
to  improve  by  the  conversation  of  my  unknown  brethren.  If  God  bids 
me  be  strong  again,  I shall  be  glad  to  try  if  He  will  be  pleased  to 
comfort  us  by  the  mutual  faith  both  of  you  and  me.  My  desire  is,  that 
Christ  may  be  glorified  both  in  my  life  and  death.  If  I have  any  desire 
to  live  at  any  time,  it  is  principally  to  be  a witness,  in  word  and  deed, 
of  the  dispensation  oi^power  from  on  high  ; and  to  point  out  that  king- 
dom which  does  not  consist  in  word,  but  in  power , even  in  righteous- 
ness^ peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Spirit  of  power.  I am 
writing  an  Essay  upon  that  important  part  of  the  Christian  doctrine. 

" Should  I be  spared  to  visit  you,  the  keep  of  a horse,  and  the  poor 
rider,  will  be  all  the  burden  I should  lay  on  you ; and  that  will  be  more 
than  my  Heavenly  Master  indulged  Himself  in.  I am  just  setting  out 
for  Norwich  with  Mr.  Wesley,  whose  renewed  strength  and  immense 


^ Wesley’s  Journal. 

^ Benson’s  " Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  47-]  Fletcher's  Second  Visit  to  Everton. 


371 


labours  astonish  me.  What  a pattern  for  preachers  ! His  redeeming 
the  time  is,  if  I mistake  not,  matchless. 

“Should  I never  have  the  pleasure  of  thanking  you  in  person  for 
your  brotherly  regard,  I beg  you  will  endeavour  to  meet  me  in  the 
kingdom  of  our  Father,  where  distance  of  time  and  place  is  lost  in  the 
fulness  of  Him  who  is  all  in  all.  The  way  ye  know, — the  penitential 
way  of  a heart-felt  faith  working  by  obedient  love.”  ^ 

Early  in  the  month  of  December,  Fletcher  visited  Mr. 
Gorham,  at  St.  Neots.  One  of  his  inducements  to  under- 
take this  journey  was  to  have  an  opportunity  of  conversing 
with  Berridge,  Vicar  of  Everton,  and  with  Henry  Venn,  who, 
a few  years  before,  had  left  Huddersfield,  and  settled  in  a 
small  country  village,  as  Rector  of  Yelling.  Mr.  Gorham’s 
son  accompanied  Fletcher  to  Everton.  Sixteen  years  had 
elapsed  since  Fletcher’s  former  visit  there  ; and,  during  that 
interval,  Berridge  had  published  his  “Christian  World  Un- 
masked and  Fletcher  had  severely  handled  its  Calvinian 
doctrines  in  his  “ Fifth  Check  to  Antinomianism  but  there 
was  no  room  for  malice  in  Christian  hearts  like  theirs.  The 
instant  Fletcher  entered  the  parsonage  at  Everton,  Berridge 
rose  up,  ran  to  meet  him,  embraced  him  with  folded  arms, 
and  cried,  “ My  dear  brother,  how  could  we  write  against 
each  other,  when  we  both  aim  at  the  same  thing — the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  good  of  souls  ! My  book  lies  quietly  on 
the  shelf, — and  there  let  it  lie.”  For  two  hours,  the  loving 
polemics  had  an  unbroken  conversation  ; when  Berridge 
said,  “ We  must  not  part  without  praying.”  Down  they  fell 
upon  their  knees.  Full  of  the  great  truth  then  occupying 
his  mind,  and  which  probably  had  been  the  chief  subject  of 
conversation  with  his  friend,  Fletcher  began  to  pray  for  an 
effusion  of  the  Spirit,  and  for  greater  degrees  of  sanctifica- 
tion and  usefulness.  Berridge  followed,  with  a prayer  full 
of  love  and  faith.  The  two  seemed  as  if  it  were  impossible 
to  separate  ; and  Fletcher  had  to  be  torn  away,  to  keep  an 
appointment,  at  St.  Neots,  with  the  Rector  of  Yelling.  Venn 
was  charmed  with  Fletcher,  and  became  so  absorbed  in  the 
conversation,  that  Fletcher  had  to  remind  him,  playfully,  of 
the  meal  before  him.  A year  afterwards,  they  met  again,  at 
Bristol,  lodged  together  for  six  weeks  in  the  same  house. 


^ Methodist  Magazine,  1801,  p.  43. 


372 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor, 


[1776. 


and  Venn,  on  his  return  to  Yelling,  declared,  from  his  pulpit, 
that  Fletcher  was  ‘‘  like  an  angel  on  earth/' 

Notwithstanding  considerable  opposition,  Fletcher  was 
permitted  to  preach  once  in  St.  Neots  Church,  and  took, 
as  his  text,  ''  We  love  Him,  because  He  first  loved  us."  Many 
hung  upon  the  lips  of  the  preacher  ; but  three  or  four  of 
his  hearers,  in  great  dudgeon,  left  before  his  sermon  was 
ended.  “ I will  not  be  tedious,"  cried  Fletcher,  as  the  dis- 
contented were  retreating,  but  oh  that  I might  persuade 
you  to  love  Him,  who  first  loved  us!"  About  thirty  of  his 
congregation  followed  him  to  his  lodgings,  where,  at  their 
request,  he  preached  again,  most  of  those  that  were  present 
being  powerfully  affected. 

Considering  the  state  of  his  health,  this  preaching  exercise 
was  hardly  prudent ; but  Fletcher  had  less  regard  for  his 
health  than  for  what  he  conceived  to  be  his  duty.  The 
season  was  the  depth  of  winter  ; but  he  maintained  his 
accustomed  early  rising.  One  morning,  before  four  o'clock, 
Mr.  Gorham  stole  gently  into  his  chamber,  and  kindled  his 
fire.  The  crackling  of  the  wood  awoke  him  ; and,  instantly, 
showing  the  frame  of  mind  in  which  he  habitually  lived, 
whether  awake  or  asleep,  he  cried,  ‘‘  Is  it  you,  my  kind  host, 
with  your  candle  and  fire  } May  the  Lord  light  the  candle 
of  faith  and  the  fire  of  love  in  our  hearts!"  When  nearly 
fifty  years  had  elapsed,  Mr.  Gorham  said,  I have  never 
forgotten  this  salutation  ; and  often  do  I step  into  the  room, 
and  look  at  the  spot  where  I received  the  dear  saint's  thanks, 
and  heard  his  prayer."^ 

At  this  time,  there  resided  at  the  suburban  village  of 
Stoke  Newington  a gentleman  who  must  have  a brief  notice. 
His  father,  James  Greenwood,  was  one  of  the  earliest  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Society,  at  the  Foundery,  London  ; and 
he  himself  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  Wesley's  chapel, 
in  City  Road.  He  had  a lucrative  business,  as  an  uphol- 
sterer, in  Rood  Lane  and  Fenchurch  Street ; and  died,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-six,  in  1783,  his  remains  being  put  into  one 
of  the  early-dug  graves  in  the  burial  ground  of  City  Road 
Chapel.^  Wesley's  mention  of  his  death  is  worth  quoting  : — 

^ Appendix  to  Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Stevenson’s  ''  City  Road  Chapel.” 


Age  47  ] I^etter  to  the  Parishioners  of  M a deley. 


373 


1783,  Febrtcary  21. — To-day  Charles  Greenwood  went  to  rest.  He 
had  been  a melancholy  man  all  his  days,  full  of  doubts  and  fears,  and 
continually  writing  bitter  things  against  himself.  When  he  was  first 
taken  ill,  he  said  he  should  die,  and  w^as  miserable  through  fear  of 
death ; but,  two  days  before  he  died,  the  clouds  dispersed,  and  he  was 
unspeakably  happy,  telling  his  friends,  ‘ God  has  revealed  to  me  things 
which  it  is  impossible  for  man  to  utter.’  Just  when  he  died,  such  glory 
filled  the  room,  that  it  seemed  to  be  a little  heaven  ; none  could  grieve 
or  shed  a tear,  but  all  present  appeared  to  be  partakers  of  his  joy.”  ^ 

In  the  necrology  of  the  Methodists,  there  are  but  few 
brighter  death-bed  scenes  than  that  of  Charles  Greenwood, 
of  Stoke  Newington.^ 

On  his  return  from  St.  Neots,  on  December  16,  Fletcher 
took  up  his  residence  in  the  house  of  this  worthy  man. 
Wesley  disapproved  of  this,  and  wrote  : — 

I verily  believe,  if  Mr.  Fletcher  had  travelled  with  me,  partly  in  the 
chaise,  and  partly  on  horseback,  only  a few  months  longer,  he  would 
quite  have  recovered  his  health.  But  this  those  about  him  would  not 
permit:  so  being  detained  in  London  by  his  kind  but  injudicious  friends, 
while  I pursued  my  journeys,  his  spitting  of  blood,  with  all  the  other 
symptoms,  returned,  and  rapidly  increased,  till  the  physicians  pronounced 
him  to  be  far  advanced  in  a true,  pulmonary  consumption.”^ 

Fletcher  continued  to  reside  with  Mr.  Greenwood  till  about 
the  beginning  of  the  month  of  May,  1777;  but,  before 
proceeding  to  that  year,  extracts  must  be  given  from  a 
rem.arkable  letter,  which  he  wrote  to  the  parishioners  of 
Madeley.”  This  was  one  of  his  last  efforts  in  the  year 
1776 

Newington,  December  28,  1776. 

My  Dear  Parishioners, — I hoped  to  have  spent  the  Christmas 
holidays  with  you,  and  to  have  ministered  to  you  in  holy  things  ; but 
the  weakness  of  my  body  confining  me  here,  I humbly  submit  to  the 
Divine  dispensation.  I ease  the  trouble  of  my  absence  by  reflecting  on 
the  pleasure  I have  felt,  in  years  past,  while  singing  with  you,  ‘ Unto  us 
a child  is  born,  unto  us  a Son  is  given.’  This  truth  is  as  true  now  as  it 
was  then.  Let  us  receive  it  with  all  readiness,  and  it  will  unite  us. 

In  order  to  this,  may  the  eye  of  your  understanding  be  more  and 
more  opened  to  see  your  need  of  a Redeemer  ; and  to  behold  the  suit- 
ableness, freeness,  and  fulness  of  the  redemption,  which  was  wrought 


Wesley’s  Journal. 

See  an  account  of  it  in  the  Arminian  Magazine  for  1783. 
Wesley’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


374 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1776. 


out  by  the  Son  of  God,  and  which  is  applied  by  the  Spirit  through  faith ! 
The  wish  which  glows  in  my  soul  is  so  ardent  and  powerful,  that  it  brings 
me  down  on  my  knees,  while  I write,  and,  in  that  supplicating  posture, 

I entreat  you  all  to  consider  and  improve  the  day  of  your  visitation,  and 
to  prepare,  in  good  earnest,  to  meet,  with  joy,  your  God  and  your 
unworthy  pastor  in  another  world.  I beseech  you,  by  all  the  ministerial 
and  providential  calls  you  have  had  for  these  seventeen  years,  harden 
not  your  hearts.  Let  the  longsutfering  of  God  towards  us,  who  survive 
the  hundreds  I have  buried,  lead  us  all  to  repentance.  Dismiss  your 
sins,  and  embrace  Jesus  Christ,  who  wept  for  you  in  the  manger,  bled 
for  you  in  Gethsemane,  hung  for  you  on  the  cross,  and  now  pleads  for 
you  on  His  mediatorial  throne.  By  all  that  is  dear  to  you,  meet  me  not 
on  the  great  day  in  your  sins,  enemies  to  Christ  by  unbeliefs  and  to  God 
by  wicked  works. 

'‘The  sum  of  all  I have  preached  to  you  is  contained  in  four  pro- 
positions. First,  heartily  repent  of  your  sins,  original  and  actual. 
Secondly,  believe  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth.  Thirdly, 
in  the  power  which  true  faith  gives,  run  the  way  of  God’s  commandments 
before  God  and  men.  Fourthly,  by  continuing  to  take  up  your  cross, 
and  to  receive  the  pure  milk  of  God’s  word,  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ. 

" Should  God  bid  me  stay  on  earth  a little  longer,  and  should  He 
renew  my  strength  to  do  among  you  the  work  of  a pastor,  I hope  I shall 
prove  a more  humble,  zealous,  and  diligent  minister  than  I have  hitherto 
been.  Some  of  you  have  supposed  that  I made  more  ado  about  eternity 
and  your  precious  souls  than  they  were  worth  ; but  how  great  was  your 
mistake.  Alas  ! it  is  my  grief  and  shame  that  I have  not  been,  both  in 
public  and  private,  a thousand  times  more  earnest  and  importunate  with 
you  about  your  spiritual  concerns.  Pardon  me,  my  dear  friends, — pardon 
me  my  ignorances  and  negligences  in  this  respect.  And  as  I most 
humbly  ask  your  forgiveness,  so  I most  heartily  forgive  any  of  you,  who 
may,  at  any  time,  have  made  no  account  of  my  little  labours. 

" The  more  nearly  I consider  death  and  the  grave,  judgment  and 
eternity,  the  more  I feel  that  I have  preached  to  you  the  truth,  and  that 
the  truth  is  solid  as  the  rock  of  ages.  Although  I hope  to  see  much 
more  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living  than  I do  see, 
yet,  blessed  be  the  Divine  mercy  ! I see  enough  to  keep  my  mind  at  all 
times  unruffled,  and  to  make  me  willing  calmly  to  resign  my  soul  into 
the  hands  of  my  faithful  Creator,  my  loving  Redeemer,  and  my  sanctifying 
Comforter,  this  mome7zty  or  the  next,  if  He  calls  for  it.  I desire  your 
public  thanks  for  all  the  favours  He  showeth  me  continually,  with  respect 
to  both  my  soul  and  body.  Help  me  to  be  thankful;  for-it  is  2. pleasant 
thing  to  be  thankful.  Permit  me  also  to  bespeak  an  interest  in  your 
prayers.  Ask  that  my  faith  may  be  willing  to  receive  all  that  God’s 
grace  is  willing  to  bestow.  Ask  that  I may  meekly  suffer,  and  zealously 
do  all  the  will  of  God ; and  that,  living  or  dying,  I may  say,  with 
the  witness  of  God’s  Spirit,  ‘ For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is 
gain.’ 

" If  God  calls  me  froni  earth,  I beg  He  may  appoint  a more  faithful 


Age  47.]  Letter  to  the  Parishioners  of  Madeley. 


375 


shepherd  over  you.  You  need  not  fear  that  He  will  not : you  see  that, 
for  these  many  months,  you  have  not  only  had  no  famine  of  the  word, 
but  the  richest  plenty ; and  what  God  has  done  for  months.  He  can  do 
for  )^ears  ; yea,  for  all  the  years  of  your  life.  Only  pray ; ‘ ask  and  you 
shall  receive.^  Meet  me  at  the  throne  of  grace,  and  you  shall  meet  at 
the  throne  of  glory  your  affectionate,  obliged,  and  unworthy  minister, 

'‘J.  Fletcher.”^ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  21. 


376 


TVes/ey's  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


CHAPTER  XX. 

PUBLICATIONS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE  IN 

1777. 

IN  the  year  1 777,  Fletcher  terminated  his  controversy  with 
the  Calvinists.  He  wrote  : — 

'‘To  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  I have  not  fixed  one  consequence  upon 
the  principles  of  my  opponents,  which  does  not  fairly  and  necessarily 
flow  from  their  doctrine.  And  I have  endeavoured  to  do  justice  to  their 
piety,  declaring,  again  and  again,  my  full  persuasion  that  they  abhor 
such  consequences.^^ 

His  publications,  in  1777,  were  the  following  : — 

I.  '‘The  Doctrines  of  Grace  and  Justice  equally  essential 
to  the  pure  Gospel:  Being  some  Remarks  on  the  mischievous 
divisions  caused  among  Christians,  by  parting  those  doctrines. 
Being  an  Introduction  to  a Plan  of  Reconciliation  between 
the  Defenders  of  the  Doctrines  of  Partial  Grace^  commonly 
called  Calvinists ; and  the  Defenders  of  the  Doctrines  of 
Impartial  Justice^  com^monly  called  Arminians.  By  John 
Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Salop.  London  : Printed  by 
R.  Hawes,  17 77 1 i2mo,  39  pp. 

It  is  needless  to  furnish  an  outline  of  this  able  pamphlet, 
inasmuch  as  the  doctrines  it  enforces  and  the  doctrines  it 
condemns  are  substantially  the  same  as  have  been  repeatedly 
introduced  to  the  reader’s  notice.  There  is  one  statement, 
however,  which  Fletcher’s  admirers  have  generally  overlooked, 
but  which  proves,  beyond  controversy,  that  Fletcher  was, 
what  is  now-a-days  called,  a Millenarian.  After  dwelling 
on  what  he  designates  the  “ four  dispensations,”  namely, 
“ Gentilism,”  “Judaism,”  “the  Gospel  of  John  the  Baptist,” 
and  “ the  perfect  Gospel  of  Christ,”  which  “ is  Gentilism, 
Judaism,  and  the  Baptism  of  John,  arrived  at  their  full 


Age  47.] 


Fletcher  a Millenarian, 


377 


maturity/'  he  proceeds  to  argue  that ''another  Gospel  dispen- 
sation" is  yet  to  come.  Hence  the  following  : — 

‘‘  In  the  Psalms,  Prophets,  Acts,  Epistles,  and  especially  in  the  Reve- 
lation, we  have  a variety  of  promises,  that,  ‘in  the  day  of  His’  displayed 
‘power,’  Christ  will  ‘come  in  His  glory,  to  judge  among  the  heathen, 
to  wound  even  kings  in  the  day  of  His  wrath,  to  root  up  the  wicked,  to 
fill  the  places  with  their  dead  bodies,  to  smite  in  sunder’  antichrist,  and 
‘the  heads  over  divers  countries,’  and  to  ‘lift  up  His’  triumphant  ‘head’ 
on  this  very  earth,  where  He  once  ‘ bowed  His  ’ wounded  ‘ head,  and 
gave  up  the  ghost.’  Compare  Psalm  cx.  with  Acts  i.  11,2  Thess.  i.  10, 
Rev.  xix.,  etc.  In  that  great  day,  another  Gospel  dispensation  shall 
take  place.  We  have  it  now  in  prophecy,  as  the  Jews  had  the  Gospel 
of  Christ’s  first  advent;  but  when  Christ  shall  ‘come  to  destroy  the 
wicked,  to  be’  actually  ‘glorified  in  His  saints,  and  admired  in  all  them 
that  believe, — in  that  day,’  ministers  of  the  Gospel  shall  no  more  pro- 
phesy, but,  speaking  a plain  historical  truth,  they  shall  lift  up  their 
voices  as  ‘ the  voice  of  many  waters  and  mighty  thuilderings,  saying, 
Allelujah  ! for  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent  reigneth  ; the  marriage  of  the 
Lamb  is  come  ; His  wife,’  the  church  of  the  first-bom,  has  made  herself 
ready ; blessed  and  holy  is  he  that  hath  part  in  the  first  resurrection  ; 
he  reigns  with  Christ  a thousand  years’  (Rev.  xix.  20).  ‘ Blessed  are 

the  meek,  for  they  do  inherit  the  earth’  (Matt.  x.  5).  ‘The  times  of 
refreshing  are  come  ; and  He  has  sent  Jesus  Christ,  who  before  was 
preached  unto  you,  whom  the  heavens  did  receive  ’ till  this  solemn  season ; 
but  now  are  come  ‘the  times  of  restitution  of  all  things,  which  God  hath 
spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all  His  holy  prophets  since  the  world  began  ’ 
(Acts  iii.  19,  etc.)  May  the  Lord  hasten  this  Gospel  dispensation  ! 
and,  till  it  take  place,  may,  ‘ the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say.  Come  ! ’ ” 

It  must  be  granted  that  this  is  but  remotely  related  to  the 
Calvinian  controversy  ; but,  in  a Life  of  Fletcher,  it  is  too 
interesting  to  be  omitted. 

2.  Fletcher’s  second  publication,  in  1777,  was  a composite 
one,  and  embraced.  First,  " Bible  Arminianism  and  Bible 
Calvinism  : A two-fold  Essay, — Part  the  First  displaying 
the  doctrines  of  Partial  Grace,  Part  the  Second,  those  of 
Impartial  Justice."  i2mo.,  84  pp.  Secondly,  "The  Re- 
conciliation ; or,  an  Easy  Method  to  unite  the  professing 
People  of  God,  by  placing  the  Doctrines  of  Grace  and  Justice 
in  such  a light  as  to  make  candid  Ar7ninians  Bible-Calvinists  ; 
and  the  candid  Calvinists,  Bible-Arminians."  i2mo,  85  pp. 
Thirdly,  to  these  was  appended,  "The  Plmi  of  Reconciliation," 
the  whole  making  a small  i2mo  volume  of  187  pages.  The 


378 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


pamphlets  were  dedicated  to  his  friend  ‘‘James  Ireland,  Esq., 
of  Brislington,  near  Bristol,^'  as  follows  : — 

Dear  Sir, — To  whom  could  a plan  of  reconciliation  between  the 
Calvinists  and  Arminians  be  more  properly  dedicated,  than  to  a son  of 
peace,  whose  heart,  hand,  and  house  are  open  to  Calvinists,  Arminians, 
and  neuters  ? You  kindly  receive  the  divines  who  contend  for  the 
doctrines  of  grace  ; and  I want  words  to  describe  the  Christian  courtesy 
which  you  show  me  and  other  ministers  who  make  a stand  for  the 
doctrines  of  justice.  To  you  I am  indebted  for  the  honour  of  a friendly 
inter\dew  with  the  author^  of  the  ‘Circular  Letter,^  which  I thought 
myself  obliged  to  oppose  ; and,  as  you  succeeded  in  that  labour  of  Jove, 
it  is  natural  for  me  to  hope  that  by  your  influence,  and  by  the  patronage 
of  such  candid,  generous  peacemakers  as  the  gentleman’’  (John 
Thornton,  Esq.)  “to  whom  I have  often  compared  you,  these  reconciling 
sheets  will  be  perused  by  some  with  more  attention  than  if  they  had  no 
name  prefixed  to  them  but  that  of  your  most  obliged,  affectionate  friend 
and  servant,  ^ J.  Fletcher. 

“Newington,  A^pril  i6,  1777.” 

It  is  a well-known  fact  that  men  like  Romaine  were  often 
the  guests  of  Mr.  Ireland  ; and  that  Berridge,  Venn,  and 
others  of  the  same  way  of  thinking  were  always  welcome 
guests  in  the  mansion  of  Mr.  Thornton.  Both,  however, 
were  large-hearted  men,  and  wherever  they  met  with  un- 
doubted piety,  whether  in  a Calvinist  or  an  Arminian  brother, 
they  were  thankful  and  glad. 

No  record  of  the  “friendly  interview”  between  Fletcher 
and  Walter  Shirley  now  exists  ; but,  bearing  in  mind  the 
position  which  Mr.  Shirley  occupied,  there  cannot  be  a doubt 
that  the  result  of  their  “ interview  ” would  be  considerable, 
and  in  harmony  with  the  object  at  which  Fletcher  was  now 
strenuously  aiming. 

The  task  which  Fletcher  undertook  was  arduous,  and  he 
knew  it.  He  writes  : — 

“ Some  persons  will  urge  that  truth  should  never  be  sacrificed  to  love 
and  peace  ; that  the  Calvinists  and  the  Arminians  holding  doctrines 
diametrically  opposite,  one  party,  at  least,  must  be  totally  in  the  wrong  ; 
and,  as  the  other  party  ought  not  to  be  reconciled  to  error,  the  agreement, 
I propose,  is  impossible  : it  will  never  take  place,  unless  the  Calvinists 
can  be  prevailed  upon  to  give  up  unconditional  election,  and  their 
favourite  doctrines  of  partial  grace  ; or  the  Arminians  can  be  persuaded 
to  part  with  conditional  election,  and  their  favourite  doctrines  of  im- 


The  Rev.  Walter  Shirley. 


Age  47.]  Trying  to  Reconcile  Arminians  and  Calvinists,  379 


partial  justice  ; and  as  this  is  too  great  a sacrifice  to  be  expected  from 
either  party,  it  is  in  vain  to  attempt  bringing  about  a reconciliation 
between  them. 

This  objection  is  weighty  ; but,  far  from  discouraging  me,  it  affords 
me  an  opportunity  of  laying  before  my  readers  the  ground  of  the  hope 
I entertain,  to  reconcile  the  Calvinists  and  the  Arminians.  I should, 
indeed,  utterly  despair  of  effecting  it,  were  I obliged  to  prove  that 
either  party  is  entirely  in  the  wrong ; but  I expect  some  success,  because 
my  grand  design  is  to  demonstrate  that  both  parties  have  an  important 
truth  on  their  side.’^ 

Fletcher  proceeds  to  give  his  own  view  on  the  Calvinian 
side  of  the  question,  as  follows  : — 

‘‘The  partial  election  and  reprobation  of  free  grace  is  the  gracious 
and  wise  choice  which  God,  as  a sovereign  and  arbitrary  Benefactor, 
makes  or  refuses  to  make  of  some  persons,  churches,  cities,  and  nations, 
to  bestow  upon  them,  for  His  own  mercy’s  sake,  more  favours  than  He 
does  upon  others.  It  is  the  partiality  with  which  He  imparts  His 
talents  of  nature,  providence,  and  grace,  to  His  creatures  or  servants ; 
giving  five  talents  to  some,  two  to  others,  and  one  to  others ; not  only 
without  respect  to  their  works,  or  acquired  worthiness  of  any  sort,  but 
frequently  in  opposition  to  all  personal  demerit.” 

This  admirable  definition  of  a sound  doctrine  is  sustained 
by  references  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  Moses,  and  other 
Old  Testament  personages  ; also  to  the  cities  of  Jerusalem, 
Chorazin,  and  Bethsaida  ; to  the  countries  of  Egypt,  Judea, 
Syria,  and  England,  etc. 

Then,  turning  to  the  Arminian  side  of  the  controversy, 
Fletcher  gives  the  following  equally  correct  definition  : — 

“The  impartial  election  and  reprobation  of  justice  is  the  righteous 
and  wise  choice  which  God,  as  an  equitable  and  unbribed  Judge,  makes, 
or  refuses  to  make,  of  some  persons,  churches,  cities,  and  nations, 
judicially  to  bestow  upon  them,  for  Christ’s  sake,  gracious  rewards, 
according  to  His  evangelical  promises ; or  judicially  to  inflict  upon 
them,  for  righteousness’  sake,  condign  punishments,  according  to  His 
reasonable  threatenings.” 

This  definition  is  also  supported  by  a large  number  of 
Scripture  examples,  showing  Fletcher’s  perfect  knowledge  of 
the  holy  books.  He  then  writes  : — 

“Rigid  Calvinists  and  rigid  Arminians  are  both  in  the  wrong;  the 
former  in  obscuring  the  doctrines  of  impartial  justice,  and  the  latter 
in  clouding  the  doctrines  of  partial  grace.  But  moderate  Calvinists 
and  candid  Arminians  are  very  near  each  other,  and  very  near  the 


38o 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


truth  ; the  difference  there  is  between  them  being  more  owing  to  con- 
fusion, want  of  proper  explanation,  and  misapprehension  of  each  other’s 
sentiments,  than  to  any  real,  inimical  opposition  to  the  truth,  or  to  one 
another.” 

Fletcher  next  propounds  his  Plan  of  Reconciliation.” 

P'irst  of  all,  he  adduces  the  well-known  plan  of  union, 
which  Wesley,  thirteen  years  before,  had  ineffectually  pro- 
posed to  the  evangelical  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England, 
including  Romaine,  Shirley,  Newton,  Venn,  and  Berridge  ; 
after  which  he  proceeds  to  observe : — 

I do  not  see  why  such  a plan  might  not  be,  in  some  degree,  admitted 
by  all  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  whether  they  belong  to  or  dissent 
from  the  Establishment.  I would  extend  my  brotherly  love  to  all 
Christians  in  general,  but  more  particularly  to  all  Protestants,  and 
most  particularly  to  all  the  Protestants  of  the  Established  Church  ; but 
God  forbid  that  I should  exclude  from  my  brotherly  affection,  and 
occasional  assistance,  any  true  minister  of  Christ,  because  he  casts  the 
Gospel  net  among  the  Presbyterians,  the  Independents,  the  Quakers, 
or  the  Baptists ! So  far  as  they  cordially  aim  at  the  conversion  of 
sinners,  I will  offer  them  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  communicate 
with  them  in  spirit.  Might  not  good  men  and  sincere  ministers  form 
themselves  into  a Society  of  reconcilers,  whatever  be  their  denomination 
and  mode  of  worship  ? There  is  a Society  for  promoting  religious 
knowledge  among  the  poor ; some  of  its  members  are  Churchmen  and 
others  Dissenters  ; some  are  Calvinists  and  others  Arminians  ; and  yet 
it  flourishes,  and  the  design  of  it  is  happily  answered.  Might  not  such 
a Society  be  formed  for  promoting  peace  and  love  among  professors  ? 
Is  not  charity  preferable  to  knowledge  ? There  is  another  respectable 
Society  for  promoting  the  Christian  faith  among  the  heathen  ; and  why 
should  there  not  be  a Society  for  promoting  unanimity  and  toleration 
among  Christians  ? Ought  not  the  welfare  of  our  fellow-Christians  to 
lie  as  near  our  hearts  as  that  of  the  heathen  ? 

‘‘  Many  gentlemen,  some  laymen  and  others  clergymen,  some  Church- 
men and  others  Dissenters,  wanted  lately  to  procure  the  repeal  of  our 
articles  of  religion.  Notwithstanding  the  diversity  of  their  employments, 
principles,  and  denominations,  they  united,  wrote  circular  letters,  drew 
up  petitions,  and  used  all  their  interest  with  men  in  power  to  bring  about 
their  design.  Again,  some  warm  men  thought  it  proper  to  blow  up  the 
fire  of  discontent  in  the  breasts  of  our  American  fellow-subjects.  How 
did  they  go  about  the  dangerous  work  ? With  what  ardour  did  they  speak 
and  write,  preach  and  print,  fast  and  pray,  publish*manifestoes  and  make 
them  circulate,  associate  and  strengthen  their  associations,  and  at  last 
venture  their  fortunes,  reputations,  and  lives,  in  the  execution  of  their 
warlike  project ! Go,  ye  men  of  peace,  and  do  at  least  half  as  much  to 


Age  47.]  Fletcher' s Proposed  Plan  of  Reconciliation.  381 


carry  on  your  friendly  design.  Associate,  pray,  preach,  and  print  for 
the  furtherance  of  peace. 

“Might  not  moderate  Calvinists  send,  with  success,  circular  letters 
to  their  rigid  Calvinian  brethren  ; and  moderate  Arminians  to  their 
rigid  Arminian  brethren,  to  check  rashness  and  recommend  meekness, 
moderation,  and  love  ? Might  not  the  Calvinist  ministers  who  patronise 
the  doctrines  of  grace  display  also  the  doctrines  of  justice,  and  open 
their  pulpits  to  those  Arminian  ministers  who  do  it  with  caution  ? And 
might  not  the  Arminian  ministers,  who  patronise  the  doctrines  of  justice, 
make  more  of  the  doctrines  of  grace,  preach  as  nearly  as  they  can  like 
the  judicious  Calvinists,  admit  them  into  their  pulpits,  and  rejoice  at 
every  opportunity  of  showing  them  their  esteem  and  confidence  ? Might 
not  such  moderate  Calvinists  and  Arminians  as  live  in  the  same  towns, 
have  from  time  to  time  a general  sacrament,  and  invite  one  another  to 
it,  to  cement  brotherly  love  by  publicly  confessing  the  same  Christ,  by 
jointly  taking  Him  for  their  common  head,  and  by  acknowledging  one 
another  as  fellow- members  of  His  mystical  body  ? 

“ The  sin  of  the  want  of  union  with  our  pious  Calvinian  or  Arminian 
brethren  is  attended  with  peculiar  aggravations.  We  are  not  only 
fellow-creatures,  but  fellow-subjects,  fellow-Christians,  fellow-Protes- 
tants,  and  fellow- sufferers,  in  reputation  at  least,  for  maintaining  the 
capital  doctrines  of  salvation  by  faith  in  Christ,  and  of  regeneration  by 
the  Spirit  of  God.  How  absurd  is  it  for  persons,  who  thus  share  in  the 
reproach,  patience,  and  kingdom  of  Christ,  to  embitter  each  other’s 
comforts,  and  add  to  the  load  of  contempt,  which  the  men  of  the  world 
cast  upon  them  ! Let  Pagans,  Mahometans,  Jews,  Papists,  and  Deists 
do  this  work.  We  may  reasonably  expect  it  from  them.  But  for  such 
Calvinists  and  Arminians  as  the  world  lumps  together  under  the  name 
of  Methodists,  on  account  of  their  peculiar  profession  of  godliness, — 
for  such  companions  in  tribulation  to  ' bite  and  devour  ’ each  other  is 
highly  unreasonable  and  peculiarly  scandalous.” 

In  such  a spirit  did  the  Arminian  polemic  address  his 
Calvinian  opponents.  The  following  is  extracted  from  his 
concluding  remarks  : — - 

“ God  is  my  record  how  greatly  I long  after  you  all  in  the  bowels  of 
Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  there  is  neither  Greek  nor  Jew,  neither  bond  nor 
free,  neither  Calvinist  nor  Arminian,  but  Christ  is  all  in  all.  Grant  me 
my  humble,  perhaps  my  dying  request,  reject  not  my  plea  for  peace. 
If  it  be  not  strong,  it  is  earnest ; for,  considering  my  bodily  weakness, 
I write  it  at  the  hazard  of  my  life  : animamque  in  vuhiere  ]pono, 

“ But  why  should  I drop  a hint  about  so  insignificant  a life,  when  I 
can  move  you  to  accept  of  terms  of  reconciliation  by  the  life  and  death, 
by  the  resurrection  and  ascension,  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I recall 
the  frivolous  hint ; and,  by  the  unknown  agonies  of  Him  whom  you  love, 
by  His  second  coming,  and  by  our  gathering  together  unto  Him,  I beseech 
you,  put  on,  as  the  Protestant  ‘ elect  of  God,  bowels  of  mercies,  kindness, 


382 


fVes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


humbleness  of  mind,  meekness,  long-suifering.,  forbearing  one  another, 
and  forgiving  one  another ; even  as  Christ  loved  and  forgave  you,  so  do 
ye/  Instead  of  absurdly  charging  one  another  with  heresy,  embrace 
one  another,  and  triumph  together  in  Christ.  Bless  God,  ye  Arminians, 
for  raising  such  men  as  the  pious  Calvinists,  to  make  a firm  stand 
against  Pharisaic  delusions,  and  to  maintain,  with  you,  the  doctrine  of 
man’s  fallen  state,,  and  of  God’s  partial  grace,  which  the  Pelagians 
attack  with  all  their  might.  And,  ye  Calvinists,  rejoice  that  heaven 
has  raised  you  such  allies  as  the  godly  Arminians,  to  oppose  Manichean 
delusions,  and  to  contend  for  the  doctrines  of  holiness  and  justice,  which 
the  Antinomians  seem  sworn  to  destroy.  Pharisaism  will  never  yield 
but  to  the  power  of  Bible- Calvinism  and  the  doctrines  of  grace.  Nor 
can  Antinomianism  be  conquered  without  the  help  of  Bible-Arminianism 
and  the  doctrines  of  justice.  When  Pharisaism  and  Antinomianism 
shall  be  destroyed,  the  Church  will  be  sanctified,  and  ready  to  be  pre- 
sented to  Christ  a glorious  Church,  ‘ not  having  spot,  or  wrinkle,  or  any 
such  thing.’  Then  shall  we  sing  with  truth  what  we  now  sing  without 
propriety, — 

‘‘  ‘Love,  like  death,  has  all  destroy’d. 

Render’d  all  distinctions  void; 

Names,  and  sects,  and  parties  fall. 

Thou,  O Christ,  art  all  in  all.”’ 

Nothing  more  need  be  said  respecting  Fletcher’s  praise- 
worthy effort  to  put  an  end  to  the  contentions  then  so 
rampant.  No  doubt,  his  object,  to  some  extent,  was  realized; 
but,  for  many  a long  year  afterwards,  not  a few  of  the  Cal- 
vinists and  Arminians  bore  a striking  resemblance  to  the 
ancient  Jews  and  Samaritans.  They  worshipped  the  same 
God,  but  did  not  love  each  other. 

Fletcher  spent  four  months,  from  December  i6,  1776,  to 
April  16,  1777,  in  the  hospitable  home  of  his  Methodist 
friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Greenwood,  at  Stoke  Newing- 
ton ; and  never  did  he  forget  their  remarkable  kindness  to 
him.  Here  he  wrote  a long  pastoral  letter  to  his  parish- 
ioners on  December  28,  1776  ; and,  sixteen  days  afterwards, 
another,  from  which  the  following  extracts  are  taken  : — 

“Newington,  January  13,  1777. 

“ My  Dear  Companions  in  Tribulation,— All  the  children  of  God 
I love  ; but,  of  all  the  children  of  God,  none  have  so  great  a right  to  my 
love  as  you.  Your  stated  or  occasional  attendance  on  my  poor  ministry, 
as  well  as  the  bonds  of  neighbourhood,  and  the  many  happy  hours  I 
have  spent  with  you  before  the  throne  of  grace,  endear  you  peculiarly 
to  me. 


Age  47-]  Fletcher's  Letter  to  his  Parishioners.  383 


With  tears  of  grateful  joy,  I recollect  the  awful  moments  when  we 
have  bound  ourselves  to  stand  to  our  baptismal  vow : to  renounce  all 
sin,  to  believe  all  the  articles  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  to  keep  God’s 
commandments  to  the  end  of  our  life.  Asking  pardon  of  God  for  not 
keeping  that  vow  better,  I determine,  with  new  courage  and  delight,  to 
love  our  Covenant  God,^  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  with  all  my 
mind,  heart,  and  strength ; with  all  the  powers  of  my  understanding, 
will,  and  affections. 

In  my  weak  state  of  health,  I find  much  comfort  from  my  relation  to 
my  Covenant  God:  I mean  (i)  My  clear,  explicit  knowledge  of  the 
Father  as  my  Creator  and  Father;  who  so  loved  the  world,  you  and  me, 
as  to  give  His  only-begotten  Son,  that  we  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life.  (2)  I mean  my  relation  to  the  adorable  Person,  who, 
with  the  strength  of  His  Godhead,  and  the  strength  of  His  pure  manhood, 
took  away  my  sin.  O how  my  soul  exults  in  that  dear  Mediator ! O the 
comfort  of  cleaving  to  Christ  by  faith,  and  of  finding  Christ  is  our  all 
in  all ! 

I sometimes  feel  a desire  of  being  buried  where  you  are  buried,  and 
of  having  my  bones  lie  in  a common  earthen,  bed  with  yours  ; but  I soon 
resign  that  wish,  and  exult  in  thinking  that,  whatever  distance  there 
may  be  between  our  graves,  we  can  now  bury  our  sins,  cares,  doubts, 
and  fears,  in  the  one  grave  of  our  divine  Saviour.  If  I,  your  poor  un- 
worthy shepherd,  am  smitten,  be  not  scattered ; but  rather  be  more 
closely  gathered  unto  Christ,  and  keep  near  each  other  in  faith  and 
love,  till  you  all  receive  our  second  Comforter  and  Advocate,  the  Holy 
Ghost,  the  third  Person  in  our  Covenant  God.  He  is  with  you  ; but,  if 
you  plead  the  promise  of  the  Father,  * which,’  says  Christ,  ^you  have 
heard  of  me.  He  will  be  in  you.’  He  will  fill  your  souls  with  His  light, 
love,  and  glory,  according  to  that  verse,  which  we  have  so  often  sung 
together, — 

^ Refining  fire,  go  through  my  heart. 

Illuminate  my  soul. 

Scatter  thy  life  through  every  part, 

And  sanctify  the  whole.’ 

‘*This  indwelling  of  the  Comforter  perfects  the  mystery  of  sanctifi- 
cation in  the  believer’s  soul.  This  is  the  highest  blessing  of  the  Chris- 
tian covenant  on  earth.  Rejoicing  in  God  our  Creator,  in  God  our 
Redeemer,  let  us  look  for  the  full  comfort  of  God  our  Sanctifier.  So 
shall  we  live  and  die  in  the  faith,  going  on  from  faith  to  faith,  from 
strength  to  strength,  from  comfort  to  comfort,  till  Christ  is  all  in  all 
to  us  all. 

I earnestly  recommend  to  you  my  dear  brother  Greaves.  Show  him 
all  the  love  you  have  shown  to  me,  and,  if  possible,  show  him  more, 
who  is  so  much  more  deserving.”^ 

^Wesley  had  held,  in  London,  the  usual  Covenant  Service,”  on 
Wednesday,  January  ist.  Probably,  Fletcher  had  attended  it,  and, 
perhaps,  taken  part  in  it. 

Letters,  1791,  p.  30. 


384 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


The  letter  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken  was  for- 
warded to  the  care  of  Mr.  Wase,  who,  probably,  was  a 
Methodist  Local  Preacher.  Mr.  Wase  wished  to  be  em- 
ployed by  the  Church  of  England  in  America.  Fletcher 
disapproved  of  this.  Hence  the  following  to  Mr.  Wase, 
written  on  the  same  day  as  the  pastoral  letter  to  the  parish- 
ioners of  Madeley.  In  fact,  the  pastoral  letter  was  appended 
to  it. 

‘‘Newington,  January  13,  1777. 

“ My  Dear  Brother, — I am  two  letters  in  your  debt.  I would  have 
answered  them  before  now,  but,  venturing  to  ride  out  in  the  frost,  the 
air  was  too  sharp  for  my  weak  lungs,  and  opened  my  wounds,  which 
has  thrown  me  back  again. 

“ I am  glad  to  see,  by  your  last,  that  you  take  up  your  shield  again. 
You  will  never  prove  a gainer  by  casting  it  away.  Voluntary  humility, 
despondency,  or  even  a defeat,  should  never  make  you  give  up  your 
confidence. 

“ Take  no  hasty  steps  about  removing.  Your  family  and  estate  seem 
to  me  to  tie  you  where  you  are,  unless  you  have  a very  striking  call  to 
remove.  You  must  not  be  above  being  employed  in  a little  way.  The 
great  Mr.  Grimshaw (of  Haworth)  “ was  not  above  walking  some  miles 
to  preach  to  seven  or  eight  persons ; and  what  are  we  when  compared 
to  him  ? Our  neighbours  will  want  you  more  when  Mr.  Greaves  and 
I are  gone.  In  the  meantime,  grow  in  meek,  humble,  patient,  and 
resigned  love ; and  your  temper,  person,  and  labours  will  be  more 
acceptable  to  all  around  you.  I saw  last  week  a gentleman  from 
America,  who  said,  all  the  church-livings  there  are  in  the  gift  of  the 
Governor ; and  those  who  get  them  are  brought  up  at  the  American 
Colleges,  and  come  over  for  ordination  to  the  Bishop  of  London.  Sup- 
posing the  peace  were  made,  and  missionaries  were  wanted,  you  might 
be  employed  in  America ; but  of  the  latter  I see  little  prospect ; and 
you  need  not  seek  trials  beyond  the  seas,  seeing  yours  at  home  are  as 
much  as  you  can  stand  under. 

“ I have  many  things  to  say  to  you  about  your  soul ; but  you  will  find 
the  substance  of  them  in  two  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  sermons,  the  one  entitled, 
‘The  Devices  of  Satan,’  and  the  other,  ‘The  Repentance  of  Believers.’ 
I wish  you  would  read  one  of  them  every  day,  till  you  have  reaped  all 
the  benefit  that  can  be  got  from  them.  Nor  eat  your  morsel  alone,  but 
let  all  be  benefited  by  the  contents. 

“When  you  meet  with  our  serious  friends  at  Broseley,  Madeley, 
Madeley  Wood,  the  Dale,  Dawley-Green,  Wheater,  Aston,  Sheriff- 
Hales,  and  the  two  Banks,  give  my  kindest  love  to  them,  and  read 
them  the  following  scrawl.^ 

^ The  Pastoral  Letter  already  mentioned.  The  places  here  named 
were,  probably,  Fletcher’s  Methodist  Circuit,  in  each  of  which  Metho- 
dist Societies  had  been  formed. 


Age  47.] 


Letter  to  Rev,  Vincerit  Perronet, 


3S5 


My  kind  love  to  Mrs.  Wase,  and  all  your  and  my  friends  by  name. 
Thank  Michael  Onions,  and  I.  Owen  ; I shall  answer  their  letters  when 
I can,  if  God  spare  me. 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

“J.  Fletcher.”^ 

The  good  Archbishop  of  Methodism/'  the  Rev.  Vincent 
Perronet,  Vicar  of  Shoreham,  Kent,  and  his  noble  daughter, 
invited  Fletcher  to  visit  them  ; to  whom  Fletcher  replied  in 
the  two  following  letters  : — 

Newington,  Janua7^y  19,  1777. 

''Dear  Father  in  Christ, — I beg  you  to  accept  my  multiplied 
thanks  for  your  repeated  favours.  You  have  twice  entertained  me,  a 
worthless  stranger ; and,  not  yet  tired  of  the  burden,  you  again  kindly 
invite  me  to  share  in  the  comforts  of  your  house  and  family.  Kind  Pro- 
vidence leaves  me  no  room,  at  present,  to  hang  a third  burden  upon 
5^ou.  The  good  air  and  accommodations  here,  and  the  nearness  to  a 
variety  of  helps,  joined  to  the  kindness  of  my  friends  and  the  weakness 
of  my  body,  forbid  me  to  remove  at  present.  God  reward  your  labour 
of  love  and  fatherly  offers  ! Should  the  Lord  raise  me  up,  I shall  be 
better  able  to  reap  the  benefit  of  your  instructions,  a pleasure  which 
I promise  myself  some  time,  if  the  Lord  pleases. 

" I have  of  late  thought  much  upon  a method  of  reconciling  the 
Calvinists  and  Armenians.  I have  seen  some  Calvinian  ministers,  who 
seem  inclined  to  a plan  of  pacification.  I wish  I had  strength  enough 
to  draw  the  sketch  of  it  for  you.  I think  the  thing  is  by  no  means 
impracticable,  if  we  w^ould  bht  look  one  another  in  the  face,  and  pull 
together  at  the  feet  of  Him  ' who  makes  men  to  be  of  one  mind  in  a 
house,’  and  who  once  made  all  believers  to  be  of  one  soul  in  the  Church. 
Let  us  pray,  hope,  wait,  and  be  ready  to  promote  the  blessing  of  recon- 
ciliation ; in  which  none  could  be  more  glad  to  second  you,  than, 
honoured  and  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate,  obliged  son  in  the  Gospel, 

"J.  Fletcher.”^ 

In  another  letter,  soon  to  be  introduced,  it  will  be  seen 
that,  among  the  Calvinian  ministers,”  whom  Fletcher  had 
seen,  were  the  Rev.  Walter  Shirley^  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Peckwell. 

In  his  letter  to  Miss  Perronet,  Fletcher  dwells  upon  the 
great  truth  which  then  filled  his  mind  and  heart,  and  which 
was  the  chief  topic  of  his  conversation  with  his  friends, — the 


* Letters,  1791,  p.  23;  and  Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazute^  1846, 
p.  141. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  239., 


25 


386 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor, 


mission  of  the  Spirit,  and  His  sanctifying  work.  It  was 
written  on  the  same  day  as  the  letter  to  her  father  : — 

Newington,  January  19,  1777. 

Dear  Madam, — I thank  you  for  your  care  and  kind  nursing  of  me 
when  at  Shoreham  ; and,  especially,  for  the  few  lines  with  which  you 
have  favoured  me.  They  are  so  much  the  more  agreeable  to  me,  as 
they  treat  of  the  one  thing  needful  for  the  recovery  of  our  souls, — ‘ the 
spirit  of  power,  of  love,  and  of  a sound  mind;  ’ together  with  our  need  of 
it,  and  the  grand  promise  that  this  need  shall  be  abundantly  supplied, — 
supplied  by  an  outpouring  of  that  ‘ Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  which 
makes  us  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death.’  May  we  hunger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  we  shall  be  filled  ! 
May  we  so  come  to  our  first  Paraclete,  Advocate,  and  Comforter,  as  to 
receive  the  Second,  as  an  indwelling  and  overjiowing  fountain  of  light, 
life,  and  love  ! 

I trust  my  view  of  this  mystery  is  scriptural.  The  Father  so  loved 
the  world  as  to  give  us  the  first  Advocate,  Paraclete,  and  Comforter, 
whom  we  love  and  receive  as  our  Redeemer.  The  first  Advocate  has 
told  us,  it  was  expedient  that  He  should  leave  us,  because,  in  that  case. 
He  would  send  another  Advocate,  Paraclete,  or  Comforter,  to  abide  with 
uSy  and  be  in  us  for  ever,  as  our  Sanctifier ^ our  Urim  and  Thummim, 
our  lights  and  perfectio7is , our  oracle  and  guide.  This  is  the  grand 
promise  to  Christians, — called  the  J>romise  of  the  Father^  and  brought 
by  the  Son.  O may  it  be  sealed  on  our  hearts  by SJ>irit  of  promise  I 
May  we  ever  cry — 

“ ^ Seal  thou  our  breasts,  and  let  us  wear 
That  pledge  of  love  for  ever  there  ! ’ 

“ Then  shall  we  be  filled  with  pure,  perfect  love ; for  the  love  of  the 
Spirit  perfects  that  of  the  Father  and  Son,  and  accomplishes  the  mystery 
of  God  in  the  believing  soul. 

Come  then,  let  us  look  for  it ; this  great  salvation  draws  nigh.  Let 
us  thank  God  more  thankfully,  more  joyfully,  more  humbly,  more  peni- 
tently, for  Christ  our  first  Comforter;  and,  hanging  on  His  word,  let  us 
ardently  pray  for  the  fulness  of  His  Spirit, — for  the  indwelling  of  our 
second  Comforter,  who  will  lead  us  into  all  truth,  all  love,  all  power. 
Let  us  join  the  few  who  besiege  the  throne  of  grace,  and  not  cease  putting 
the  Lord  in  remembrance,  till  He  has  again  raised  Himself  a Pentecostal 
Church  in  the  earth, — I mean  a church  of  such  believers  as  are  all  of 
one  heart  and  one  soul.”^ 

Fletcher’s  friends  were  most  ardently  attached  to  him  ; 
and  no  wonder  that  they  were.  The  man  seemed  to  be  an 
incarnation  of  humble,  loving  piety.  All,  in  his  serious 


1 Letters,  1791,  p.  240. 


Age  47.J 


Fletcher  Visited  by  his  Frituds, 


387 


illness,  were  eager  to  help  him.  Ten  days  after  the  date  of 
his  letters  to  Mr.  and  Miss  Perronet,  he  wrote,  as  follows,  to 
Mr.  Ireland  : — 


“ Newington,  January  29,  1777. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  and  to  my  dear  friend,  for  favours  upon  favours, 
for  undeserved  love  and  the  most  endearing  tokens  of  it ! 

“ I have  received  your  obliging  letters,  full  of  kind  offers ; and  your 
jar,  full  of  excellent  grapes.  May  God  open  to  you  the  book  of  life,  and 
seal  upon  your  heart  all  the  offers  and  promises  it  contains  ! May  the 
treasures  of  Christ’s  love,  and  all  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  be  open  to  my 
dear  friend,  and  unwearied  benefactor  ! 

^‘Last  Sunday,  Providence  sent  me  Dr.  Turner,  who,  under  God,  saved 
my  life,  twenty- three  years  ago,  in  a dangerous  illness ; and  1 am  inclined 
to  try  what  his  method  will  do.  He  orders  me  asses’  milk,  chicken, 
etc.  ; forbids  me  riding,  and  recommends  the  greatest  quietness.  He 
prohibits  the  use  of  Bristol  water ; advises  some  water  of  a purgative 
nature ; and  tries  to  promote  expectoration  by  a method  that  so  far 
answers,  though  I spit  by  it  more  blood  than  before. 

“With  respect  to  my  soul,  I find  it  good  to  be  in  the  balance, — awfully 
weighed  every  day  for  life  or  death.  I thank  God,  the  latter  has  lost 
its  sting,  and  endears  to  me  the  Prince  of  Life.  But  O ! I want  Christ, 
my  resurrection,  to  be  a thousand  times  more  dear  to  me  ; and  I doubt 
not  He  will  be  so,  when  I am  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  reve- 
lation in  the  knowledge  of  Him.  Let  us  wait  for  that  glory,  praising 
God  for  all  we  have  received,  and  trusting  Him  for  all  we  have  not  yet 
received.  Let  our  faith  do  justice  to  His  veracity ; our  hope  to  His 
goodness;  and  our  love  to  all  His  perfections.  It  is  good  to  trust  in 
the  Lord ; and  His  saints  like  well  to  hope  in  Him. 

“ I am  provided  here  with  every  necessary  and  convenient  blessing 
for  my  state.  The  great  have  done  me  the  honour  of  calling, — Mr. 
Shirley,  Mr.  Rowland  Hill,  Mr.  Peckwell,  etc.^  I exhort  them  to  pro- 
mote peace  in  the  Church,  which  they  take  kindly.  Lady  Huntingdon 
also  has  written  me  a kind  letter.  This  world  to  me  is  now  become  a 
world  of  love,  ’ ’ 

Madeley  was  the  centre  of  a kind  of  Methodist  circuit, 
which,  however,  had  no  Methodist  meeting-house.  Services 


^ Berridge,  of  Everton,  also  came  to  Fletcher  at  Stoke  Newington. 
‘ They  met  and  parted  in  the  spirit  of  Christian  love  ; and  I believe  saw 
each  other  no  more  in  the  body.”  (The  Works  of  the  Rev.  John 
Berridge,  A.M. ; with  a Memoir  of  his  Life,  by  Rev.  R.  Whittingham, 
p-  63.) 

Another,  who  visited  him,  was  Dr.  Price,  who,  afterwards,  said,  “.I 
was  introduced  to  the  company  of  a man,  whose  air  and  countenance 
bespoke  him  fitted  rather  for  the  society  of  angels,  than  for  the  conver- 
sation of  men.”  (Cox’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  114.) 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  242. 


3^8 


TVesky  s Designated  Successor, 


[1777- 


were  held  in  cottages  ; chapels  did  not  exist.  In  the  midst 
of  his  affliction,  Fletcher  and  his  friends  projected  the  building 
of  one  in  Madeley  Wood.^  As  will  be  seen  in  subsequent 
letters,  the  execution  of  the  scheme  brought  upon  him  con- 
siderable anxiety.  Robert  Palmer  was  the  builder,  and  the 
entire  cost  was  £2g6  lys.  5^.,  including  £i  4.S.  2d.  “paid 
for  drink  for  the  men  with  the  teams,”  and  £y,  \2s.  paid  for 
“sixteen  stones  of  malt,  for  drink  for  the  workmen.”^  The 
following  letter,  addressed  to  Mr.  Wase,  refers  to  this  humble 
edifice  : — 

''  Newington,  February  18,  1777. 

^‘My  Dear  Brother, — My  dear  friend  Ireland  brought  me,  last 
week.  Sir  John  Elliott,  who  is  esteemed  the  greatest  physician  in  London, 
in  consumptive  cases.  He  gave  hopes  of  my  recovery,  upon  using  proper 
diet  and  means.  I was  bled  yesterday  for  the  third  time.  I calmly 
leave  all  to  God,  and  use  the  means  without  trusting  in  them.  Death 
has  lost  its  sting.  I know  not  what  hurry  of  spirit  is,  or  unbelieving 
fears,  under  my  most  terrifying  symptoms.  Glory  be  to  God,  for  this 
unspeakable  mercy  ! Help  me  to  praise  Him  for  it. 

‘‘With  respect  to  our  intended  room,  I beg  Mr.  Palmer,  Mr.  Lloyd, 
and  yourself  to  consult  about  it,  and  that  Mr.  Palmer  would  contract 
for  the  whole.  I shall  contribute  ;^ioo,  including  ^10  I have  had  for  it 
from  Mr.  Ireland^  and  ;^io  from  Mr.  Thornton.”-^ 

In  other  ways,  Fletcher  evinced  his  profound  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  Madeley  friends.  Mr.  Greaves  occupied 
his  pulpit,  and  preached,  with  great  acceptance,  to  his  parish- 
ioners ; but  Mr.  Greaves  was  not  a priest,  and,  therefore, 
was  not  qualified  to  administer  the  holy  sacraments.  To 
meet  the  case,  Fletcher  wrote  as  follows  to  the  Bishop  of 
Hereford  : — 

“ Stoke  Newington,  March  22,  1777. 

“ My  Lord, — It  is  near  a year  since  I was  taken  ill  with  a cough, 
spitting  of  blood,  and  hectic  fever.  This  complication  of  disorders 
obliged  me  to  go  to  Bristol  last  summer,  for  the  benefit  of  the  waters  ; 


1 The  chapel  was  enlarged  a short  time  before  Fletcher’s  death  in 
1785.  On  the  morning  of  the  day  when  his  friends  began  to  hew  the 
stones  for  the  enlargement,  he  went  to  the  quarry,  and  said,  “ First  of 
all,  let  us  pray.”  The  workers  knelt  upon  the  rock;  Fletcher  prayed 
in  a way  that  few  besides  himself  could  pray ; and  then,  till  duty  called 
him  elsewhere,  assisted  in  shaping  the  stones  for  the  extension  of  the 
building.  (Crowther’s  “ Portraiture  of  Methodism,”  p.  96.) 

^ MS.  in  Fletcher’s  own  handwriting. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  24. 


Age  47.] 


Fletcher' s Letter  to  his  Bishop, 


389 


and  it  now  detains  me  here,  where  I stay  on  account  of  the  greater 
mildness  of  the  climate,  and  the  help  I can  have  from  the  London 
physicians,  who,  as  well  as  those  of  Bristol,  absolutely  forbid  me  doing 
duty. 

It  is  with  great  difficulty  that  I have  got  my  church  properly  served. 
My  chief  assistant  has  been  Mr.  Greaves,  a young  clergyman  of  the 
next  diocese,  who  is  only  in  deacon’s  orders,  and  who,  considering  my 
weak  state  of  health,  has  kindly  left  his  curacy  to  oblige  and  help  me. 

I give  him  a title,  and  do  humbly  recommend  him  to  your  lordship, 
begging  you  would  admit  him  to  the  holy  order  of  priest ; without  which 
he  cannot  properly  supply  my  church,  my  parishioners  having  always 
been  used  to  a monthly  sacrament,  and  dying  people,  in  so  populous  a 
part  of  the  diocese,  frequently  wanting  to  have  the  ordinance  adminis- 
tered to  them. 

I am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  trouble  your  lordship  on  this  occasion  ; 
but  hope,  my  lord,  you  will  not  deny  me  a favour  which  few  clergymen 
in  your  lordship’s  diocese  can  want  as  much  as  your  lordship’s  dutiful 
son  and  obedient  servant, 

‘'John  Fletcher.”^ 

With  this  letter,  Fletcher  sent  the  following  certificate  : — 

“ To  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God,  James  Lord  Bishop  of 
Hereford. 

“ These  are  to  certify  to  your  lordship  that  I,  John  Fletcher,  Vicar  of 
Madeley,  in  the  county  of  Salop  and  your  lordship’s  diocese  of  Hereford, 
do  hereby  nominate  and  appoint  Alexander  Benjamin  Greaves,  late 
Curate  of  Glossop,  in  Derbyshire,  to  perform  the  office  of  a Curate  in 
my  church  of  Madeley  aforesaid  ; and  do  promise  to  allow  him  the 
yearly  sum  of  for  his  maintenance  in  the  same ; and  to  continue 
him  to  officiate  in  my  said  church  until  he  shall  be  otherwise  provided 
of  some  ecclesiastical  preferment,  unless,  by  fault  by  him  committed, 
he  shall  be  lawfully  removed  from  the  same.  And  I hereby  solemnly 
declare  that  I do  not  Jraudulently  give  this  certificate  to  entitle  the  said 
Alexander  Benjamin  Greaves  to  receive  Holy  Orders,  but  with  a real 
intention  to  employ  him  in  my  said  church,  according  to  what  is  before 
expressed. 

“ Witness  my  hand  this  twenty-second  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1777, 

“John  Fletcher. ”2 

The  Perronet  family  at  Shoreham  dearly  loved  poor 
Fletcher.  He  had  been  their  guest,  and  they  had  seen  his 
spirit.  Damaris  Perronet  was  occasionally  one  of  his  corre- 
spondents; and  William  Perronet  was  now  his  loving  medical 


Unpublished  MS. 

Ibid, 


390 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1777- 


attendant.  The  saintly  Charles  Perronet  had  died  in  the 
month  of  August,  but  was  most  tenderly  remembered 

by  all  who  knew  him.  To  Miss  Perronet,  Pletcher  now 
wrote  as  follows  : — 

'^Newington,  2 1,  1777. 

Dear  Friend, — A thousand  thanks  to  you  for  your  kind, 
comfortable  lines.  The  prospect  of  going  to  see  Jesus  and  His  glorified 
members,  and  among  them  your  dear  departed  brother,  my  now  ever- 
living  friend,  is  enough  to  make  me  quietly  and  joyfully  submit  to 
leave  all  my  Shoreham  friends,  and  all  the  excellent  ones  of  the  earth. 
But  why  do  I talk  of  leaving  any  of  Christ's  members  by  going  to  be 
more  intimately  united  to  the  Head  ? 

“ ‘ We  all  are  one  who  Him  receive. 

And  each  with  each  agree  ; 

In  Him  the  One,  the  truth  we  live, 
point  of  unity  ! ' 

''A  point  this  which  fills  heaven  and  earth,  which  runs  through  time 
and  eternity.  In  it  sickness  is  lost  in  health,  and  death  in  life.  There 
let  us  ever  meet. 

‘‘  I cannot  tell  you  how  much  I am  obliged  to  your  dear  brother  for 
all  his  kind  brotherly  attendance  as  a physician.  He  has  given  me  his 
time,  his  long  walks,  his  remedies.  He  has  brought  me  Dr.  Turner 
several  times,  and  will  not  allow  me  to  reimburse  his  expenses.  Help 
me  to  thank  him  for  all  his  profusion  of  love,  for  I cannot  sufficiently  do 
it  myself. 

My  duty  to  your  father ; I throw  myself  in  spirit  at  his  feet  and  ask 
his  blessing,  and  an  interest  in  his  prayers.  Tell,  him  that  the  Lord  is 
gracious  to  me  ; does  not  suffer  the  enemy  to  disturb  my  peace  ; and 
gives  me,  in  prospect,  the  victory  over  death.  Absolute  resignation  to 
the  Divine  will  baffles  a thousand  temptations,  and  confide7tce  in  our 
Saviour  carries  us  sweetly  through  a thousand  trials."  ^ 

The  time  of  Fletcher’s  happy  sojourn  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Greenwood  at  Stoke  Newington  was  now  ended.  One  of 
the  family  wrote: — 

^‘When  he  first  came,  he  was,  by  Dr.  Fothergill’s  advice,  under  the 
strictest  observance  of  two  things — rest  and  silence.  These,  together 
with  a milk  diet,  were  supposed  to  be  the  only  probable  means  of  his 
recovery.  In  consequence  of  these  directions,  he  spoke  exceeding  little. 
If  ever  he  spoke  more  than  usual,  it  did  not  fail  to  increase  his  spitting 
of  blood,  of  which  indeed  he  was  seldom  quite  clear,  although  it  was 
not  violent.  Therefore,  a great  part  of  his  time  was  spent  in  being  read 
to  ; but  it  was  not  possible  to  restrain  him  altogether  from  speaking. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  246. 


Age  47]  Fletcher's  Sojourn  at  Stoke  Newington. 


391 


His  natural  vivacity,  with  his  intense  love  of  Jesus,  impelled  him  to 
speak  ; but  on  being  reminded  of  his  rule,  with  a cheerful  smile  he  was 
all  submission,  consenting  by  signs  only  to  stir  up  those  about  him  to 
pray  and  praise.  Those  who  had  the  privilege  of  observing  his  spirit 
and  conduct,  will  not  scruple  to  say  that  he  was  a living  comment  on 
his  own  account  of  Christian  perfection.  When  he  was  able  to  converse, 
his  favourite  subject  was,  the  ;promise  of  the  Father,  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  including  the  rich  peculiar  blessing  of  union  with  the 
Father  and  the  Son,  mentioned  in  the  prayer  of  our  Lord,  recorded  in 
John  xvii.  ‘ We  must  not  be  content,’  said  he,  ‘ to  be  only  cleansed 
from  sin;  we  must  be  filled  with  the  Spirit.’  One  asking  him.  What 
was  to  be  experienced  in  the  full  accomplishment  of  the  promise  of  the 
Father?  ^ O,’  said  he,  ‘what  shall  I say?  All  the  sweetness  of  the 
drawings  of  the  Father,  all  the  love  of  the  Son,  all  the  rich  effusions  of 
peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  more  than  ever  can  be  expressed  are 
comprehended  here  ! To  attain  it,  the  Spirit  maketh  intercession  in  the 
soul,  like  a God  wrestling  with  a God.’ 

“ In  some  of  these  favoured  moments  of  converse,  he  mentioned  several 
circumstances,  which,  as  none  knew  them  but  himself,  would  otherwise 
have  been  buried  in  oblivion.  ‘ In  the  beginning,’  said  he,  ‘ of  my 
spiritual  course,  I heard  the  voice  of  God  in  an  articulate,  but  inexpres- 
sibly awful  sound,  go  through  my  soul  in  those  words.  If  any  man  will 
be  My  disciple,  let  him  deny  himself.  At  a later  date,  I was  favoured, 
like  Moses,  with  a supernatural  discovery  of  the  glory  of  God,  in  an 
ineffable  converse  with  Him,  face  to  face  ; so  that  whether  I was  then 
in  the  body,  or  out  of  the  body,  I cannot  tell.’ 

“On  another  occasion  he  said,  ‘About  the  time  of  my  entering  into 
the  ministry,  I one  evening  wandered  into  a wood,  musing  on  the 
importance  of  the  office  I was  going  to  undertake.  I then  began  to 
pour  out  my  soul  in  prayer  ; when  such  a sense  of  the  justice  of  God 
fell  upon  me,  and  such  a sense  of  His  displeasure  at  sin,  as  absorbed 
all  my  powers,  and  filled  me  with  the  agony  of  prayer  for  poor  lost 
sinners.  I continued  therein  till  the  dawn  of  day  ; and  I considered 
this  as  designed  of  God,  to  impress  upon  me  more  deeply  the  meaning 
of  those  solemn  words.  Therefore,  knowing  the  terrors  of  the  Lord, 
we  persuade  men . ’ 

“ One  end  of  his  retiring  to  Newington  was  that  he  might  hide  him- 
self from  company  ; but  this  design  was  in  nowise  answered,  for  company 
came  from  every  side.  He  was  continually  visited  by  high  and  low, 
and  by  persons  of  various  denominations  ; one  of  whom  being  asked, 
when  he  went  away,  what  he  thought  of  Mr.  Fletcher,  said,  ‘ I went  to 
see  a man  who  had  one  foot  in  the  grave  ; but  I found  a man  who  had 
one  foot  in  heaven.’  Among  them  who  now  visited  him  were  several 
of  his  beloved  and  honoured  opponents,  to  whom  he  confirmed  his  love 
by  the  most  respectful  and  affectionate  behaviour  ; but  he  did  not  give 
up  any  part  of  the  truth  for  which  he  had  publicly  contended  ; although 
some,  from  whom  one  would  have  expected  better  things,'  did  not  scruple 
to  affirm  the  contrary. 


392 


Wesky s Designated  Successor. 


[1777. 


''  It  was  not  without  some  difficulty  that  Mr.  Ireland  prevailed  upon 
him  to  sit  for  his  picture.  While  the  limner  was  drawing  the  outlines 
of  it  he  was  exhorting  both  him  and  all  that  were  in  the  room  not  only 
to  get  the  outlines  drawn,  but  the  colourings  also  of  the  image  of  Jesus 
on  their  hearts.  He  had  a very  remarkable  facility  in  making  allusions 
of  this  kind.  To  give  an  instance.  Being  ordered  to  be  let  blood, 
while  his  blood  was  running  into  the  cup  he  took  occasion  to  expatiate 
on  the  precious  blood-shedding  of  the  Lamb  of  God.  And  even  when 
he  did  not  speak  at  all,  the  seraphic  spirit  which  beamed  from  his 
languid  face,  during  those  months  of  pain  and  weakness,  was — 

“ ‘ A lecture  silent,  yet  of  sovereign  use.’  ” 

To  this  interesting  account,  probably  written  by  Mr. 
Greenwood  himself,  Wesley  adds  : — 

‘'It  is  necessary  to  be  observed  that  this  facility  of  raising  useful 
observations  from  the  most  trifling  incidents,  was  one  of  those  pecu- 
liarities in  Mr.  Fletcher  which  cannot  be  proposed  to  our  imitation. 
In  him,  it  partly  resulted  from  nature,  and  was  partly  a supernatural 
gift.  But  what  was  becoming  and  graceful  in  Mr.  Fletcher,  would  be 
disgustful  almost  in  any  other,”  ^ 

In  the  month  of  May,  1777,  Fletcher  left  the  hospitable 
home  of  Mr.  Greenwood,  at  Stoke  Newington,  and  went  to 
his  kind  friend  Mr.  Ireland,  at  Brislington,  near  Bristol.  In 
a letter  dated  “May  28,  1777,”  and  addressed  to  his  “very 
dear  friends  and  benefactors  Charles  and  Mary  Greenwood,” 
he  wrote  : — 

" I thought  myself  a little  better  last  Sunday,  but  I have  since  spit 
more  blood  than  I had  done  for  weeks  before.  Glory  be  to  God  for 
every  providence  ! His  will  be  done  in  me  by  health  or  sickness,  by 
life  or  death  ! All  from  Him  is,  and  I trust  will  always  be,  welcome  to 
your  obliged  pensioner, 

" J.  Fletcher.”  '^ 

To  Michael  Onions,  one  of  the  poor  Methodists  at  Coal- 
brookdale,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

Bath,  July  8,  1777. 

“My  Dear  Brother, — I heartily  thank  you  for  your  kind  letter; 
and,  by  you,  I desire  to  give  my  best  thanks  to  the  dear  companions  in 
tribulation  whom  you  meet,  and  who  so  kindly  remember  me.  If  I 
should  be  spared  to  minister  to  you  again,  my  desire  is  to  do  it  with 


^ Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 
* Letters,  1791,  p.  248. 


Age  47-]  Fletchtr  and  Venn  at  Mr.  Ireland's. 


393 


more  humility,  zeal,  diligence,  and  love.  I hope  to  see  you  before  the 
summer  is  ended,  if  it  please  God  to  give  me  strength  for  the  journey. 
I am,  in  some  respects,  better  than  when  I came  here,  and  was  enabled 
•to  bury  a corpse  last  Sunday  to  oblige  the  minister  of  the  parish  ; but, 
whether  occasioned  by  that  little  exertion  or  something  else,  bad  symp- 
toms have  returned  since.  Be  that  as  it  may,  all  is  well ; for  He,  who 
does  all  things  well,  rules  and  over-rules  all, 

“ I have  stood  the  heats  we  have  had  these  two  days  better  than  I 
expected.  I desire  you  will  help  me  to  bless  the  Author  of  all  good  for 
this  and  every  other  blessing  of  this  life  ; but  above  all  for  the  lively 
hope  of  the  next,  and  for  Christ,  our  common  hope,  peace,  joy,  wisdom, 
righteousness,  salvation,  and  all.  Don’t  let  me  want  the  reviving 
cordial  of  hearing  that  you  stand  together  firm  in  the  faith.  Look  much 
at  Jesus.  Be  much  in  private  prayer.  Forsake  not  the  assembling  of 
yourselves  together  in  little  companies,  as  well  as  in  public.  Walk  in 
the  sight  of  death  and  eternity,  and  ever  pray  for  your  affectionate,  but 
unworthy  minister, 

J.  Fletcher.”  ‘ 

“ P.S. — Let  none  of  your  little  companies  want.  If  any  do,  you  are 
welcome  to  my  house.  Take  any  part  of  the  furniture  there,  and  make 
use  of  it  for  their  relief.  And  this  shall  be  your  full  title  for  so  doing, 

“ Witness  my  hand,  JOHN  Fletcher.”  ^ 

At  this  time,  the  Rev.  Henry  Venn  was  preaching  in  the 
chapel  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  at  Bath;  and  Fletcher 
attended  his  ministry.  Her  ladyship  wrote  : — 

Dear  Mr.  Venn  has  been  preaching  most  successfully  at  Bath  to 
overflowing  congregations.  Captain  Scott  and  Mr.  Fletcher  have  been 
there,  and  heard  him  preach  in  the  chapel.  The  latter  is  far  gone  in  a 
consumptive  disorder,  but  is  alive  to  God,  and  ripening  fast  for  glory. 
We  have  exchanged  several  letters  lately.  As  a last  resource,  he  is  to 
accompany  Mr.  Ireland  to  the  south  of  France.”^ 

When  Mr.  Venn  had  completed  his  services  at  Bath,  he 
removed  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Ireland,  at  Brislington,  where 
Fletcher  was  an  honoured  guest.  Speaking  of  this  visit,  after 
Fletcher  s death,  to  a brother  clergyman,  Venn  remarked  : — 

Sir,  Mr,  Fletcher  was  a luminary — a luminary  did  I say  ? He  was 
a su7t  ! I have  known  all  the  great  men  for  these  fifty  years,  but  I have 
known  none  like  him.  I was  intimately  acquainted  with  him,  and  was 
under  the  same  roof  with  him  once  for  six  weeks  ; during  which  time  I 


Letters,  1791,  p.  26. 

Wesley’s  ” Life  of  Fletcher.” 

“ Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  71. 


?94 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


never  heard  him  say  a single  word  which  was  not  proper  to  be  spoken, 
and  which  had  not  a tendency  to  minister  grace  to  the  hearers.  One 
time,  meeting  him  when  he  was  very  ill,  I said,  ' I am  sorry  to  find  you 
so  ill.  Mr.  Fletcher  answered,  with  the  greatest  sweetness,  ‘ Sorry, 
Sir,  why  are  you  sorry  ? It  is  the  chastisement  of  our  heavenly  Father, 
and  I rejoice  in  it.  I love  the  rod  of  my  God,  and  rejoice  therein  as 
an  expression  of  His  love  towards  me.’  Never,”  continued  Mr.  Venn, 
did  I hear  Mr.  Fletcher  speak  ill  of  any  one.  He  would  pray  for  those 
who  walked  disorderly,  but  he  would  not  publish  their  faults.”^ 

In  a letter  to  the  Rev.  J.  Stillingfleet,  Mr.  Venn  remarked  : — 

I have  been  six  weeks  with  the  extraordinary  and  very  excellent 
Mr.  Fletcher.  Oh  that  I might  be  like  him  ! I strictly  observed  him, 
but,  I assure  you,  I never  heard  him  speak  anything  but  what  was 
becoming  a pastor  of  Christ’s  Church  ; — not  a single  unbecoming  word 
of  himself,  or  of  his  antagonists,  or  of  his  friends.  All  his  conversation 
tended  to  excite  to  greater  love  and  thankfulness,  for  the  benefits  of 
redemption  ; whilst  his  whole  deportment  breathed  humility  and  love. 
We  had  many  conversations.  I told  him,  most  freely,  that  I was  shocked 
at  many  things  in  his  ^Checks;’  and  pointed  them  out  to  him.  We 
widely  differ  about  the  efficacy  of  Christ’s  death,  the  nature  of  justifica- 
tion, and  the  perfection  of  the  saints  ; but  I believe  we  could  live  years 
together,  as  we  did,  in  great  love.  He  heard  me  twice ; and  I was 
chaplain  both  morning  and  evening  in  the  family,  as  his  lungs  \vould 
not  suffer  him  to  speak  long  or  loud.  He  desired  his  love,  by  me,  to 
all  his  Calvinistic  brethren ; and  begged  their  pardon  for  the  asperity 
with  which  he  had  written.  I am  persuaded,  as  I told  him,  that,  if  he 
were  to  live  with  some  of  those  whom  he  has  been  taught  to  conceive  of 
as  Antinomians,  and  hear  them  preach,  he  would  be  much  more  recon- 
ciled to  them.”^ 

Mr.  Venn’s  last  remarks  were  quite  unneeded,  for  Fletcher 
always  readily  allowed  that  the  hearts  and  lives  of  his  oppo- 
nents were  far  better  than  their  creed. 

At  the  close  of  the  month  of  July,  Wesley  came  to  Bristol, 
to  hold  his  annual  conference  with  his  preachers,  and  wrote: — 

''Wednesday,  July  30.  I spent  an  hour  or  two  with  Mr.  Fletcher, 
restored  to  life  in  answer  to  many  prayers.  How  many  providential 
ends  have  been  answered  by  his  illness  ! And  perhaps  still  greater  will 
be  answered  by  his  recovery.”^ 

The  “ providential  ends”  meant  by  Wesley  were,  probably. 


^ " Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  72. 
^ " Life  of  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  M.A.,”  p.  240. 

^ Wesley’s  Journal. 


47-]  Fletcher  at  Wesley* s Bristol  Conference.  395 


the  steps  taken  by  Fletcher  to  bring  to  an  end  the  Calvinian 
controversy,  which  had  so  greatly  disturbed  the  Methodist 
movement  during  the  last  six  years. 

Wesley’s  conference  began  on  Tuesday,  August  5,  and 
ended  on  Friday,  August  8d  It  was  short,  but  important. 
Its  most  interesting  event,  however,  was  the  attendance  of 
Fletcher.  Thomas  Taylor  remarked,  in  his  unpublished 
diary, — 

On  August  7,  that  great  and  good  man  Mr.  Fletcher  came  into  the 
conference.  My  eyes  flowed  with  tears  at  the  sight  of  him.  He  spoke 
to  us  in  a very  respectful  manner,  and  took  a solemn  farewell.  Dear, 
good  man  ! I never  saw  so  many  tears  shed  in  my  life.’’ 

Fletcher’s  valued  friend,  Joseph  Benson,  wrote  : — 

“Augusts.  We  have  had  an  edifying  conference.  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
visit  to-day  and  yesterday  has  been  attended  with  a blessing.  His 
appearance,  his  exhortations,  and  his  prayers,  broke  most  of  our  hearts, 
and  filled  us  with  shame  and  self-abasement,  for  our  little  improvement.  ’ ’ ^ 

In  his  “ Life  of  Fletcher,”  Benson  says  : — 

“ Mr.  Fletcher  happened  to  be  passing  by  the  door  of  the  stable, 
belonging  to  our  chapel  in  Broadmead,  when  I was  lighting  from  my 
horse,  ‘on  my  arrival  in  Bristol.’  I shall  never  forget  with  what  a 
heavenly  air,  and  sweet  countenance,  he  instantly  came  to  me  in  the 
stable,  and,  in  a most  solemn  manner,  put  his  hands  upon  my  head,  as 
if  he  had  been  ordaining  me  for  the  sacred  office  of  the  ministry,  and 
pra}^ed  most  fervently  for  and  blessed  me  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.” 

By  far  the  best  account,  however,  of  Fletcher  in  connection 
with  the  Bristol  Conference,  was  written,  not  by  one  of 
Wesley’s  sturdy  Itinerants,  but  by  a young  Welshman,  who 
was  present,  for  the  purpose  of  offering  himself  for  the 
Itinerant  work.  On  account  of  his  delicate  health  and  feeble 
voice,  the  offer  of  David  Lloyd  was  not  accepted ; but,  some 
years  afterwards,  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Horsley,  who 
gave  him  the  living  of  Llanbister,  which,  even  now,  is  not 
worth  more  than  ^^150  a year.  The  parsonage  was  a plain 
stone  building,  the  door  of  which  opened  into  the  main  room 
of  the  house, — its  floor  consisting  of  stone  slabs,  its  fireplace 
wide,  with  benches  in  the  corners,  and  the  fire  on  the  hearth 


Wesley’s  Journal. 

Macdonald’s  “ Idfe  of  Benson,”  p.  62. 


396 


IVesiey^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1777. 


made  principally  of  turf.  On  the  same  floor  was  another 
apartment,  which  served  as  kitchen,  and  above  were  two 
humble  bed-rooms.  ‘‘  Such,”  wrote  the  late  Rev.  James  Dixon, 
D.D.,  who,  at  the  commencement  of  his  ministry,  was  often 
the  delighted  guest  of  Mr.  Lloyd, — ''  Such  was  the  residence 
of  a philosopher,  a poet,  and  a divine,  who  seemed  to  enjoy, 
with  unmixed  contentment,  the  inheritance  given  him  by 
Providence.”  Mr.  Lloyd  s wife  was  a good  old  Methodist  ; 
their  house  was  the  home  of  Methodist  itinerant  preachers  ; 
out  of  his  small  income,  Mr.  Lloyd  subscribed  £10  a year 
to  the  Methodist  and  Church  Missionary  Societies;  presented 
to  each  a donation  of  ;^^500  ; by  his  will,  directed  that  the 
residue  of  his  property  should  be  equally  divided  between 
these  two  Societies  ; and  built  a Methodist  chapel  in  his 
parish,  secured  it  to  the  Connexion  by  deed,  and  gave  to  it 
an  endowment,  “ that  Methodist  preaching,”  as  he  said, 
‘‘might  continue  in  the  parish  as  long  as  water  should  run.”" 
This  remarkable  man,  for  whom  Dr.  Dixon  had  the  highest 
admiration,  wrote  as  follows  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke: — 

Llanbister,  near  Knighton,  Radnorshire, 

“ November  7,  1821. 

‘‘Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — At  the  conference  of  the  Methodist  preachers, 
held  at  Bristol  in  the  year  1777,  an  interview  took  place  between  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Wesley  and  the  Rev.  John  Fletcher,  of  Madeley.  I was  both 
an  eye-  and  ear-witness  to  the  facts  I here  relate.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher 
had  for  a long  time  laboured  under  the  effects  of  a deep-rooted  con- 
sumption, which  was  then  adjudged  to  be  rapidly  advancing  to  its  final 
crisis.  He  was  advised  by  the  faculty  to  make  the  tour  of  the  Continent, 
and  to  breathe  his  native  air.  He  resided,  at  that  time,  with  Mr.  Ireland, 
a gentleman  of  known  celebrity  for  the  exercise  of  catholic  love  towards 
all  such  as  possessed  the  essential  attributes  of  great  and  good  men. 
On  the  forenoon  of  a day,  when  the  sitting  of  the  Conference  was  drawing 
to  a close,  tidings  announced  the  approach  of  Mr.  Fletcher.  As  he 
entered  the  vestibule  of  the  New  Room,  supported  by  Mr.  Ireland,  I 
can  never  forget  the  visible  impulse  of  esteem  which  his  venerable  pre- 
sence excited  in  the  house.  The  whole  assembly  stood  up,  as  if  moved 
by  an  electric  shock.  Mr.  Wesley  rose,  ex  cathedra,  and  advanced  a 
few  paces  to  receive  his  highly  respected  friend  and  reverend  brother, 
whose  visage  seemed  strongly  to  bode  that  he  stood  on  the  verge  of  the 
grave ; while  his  eyes,  sparkling  with  seraphic  love,  indicated  that  he 
dwelt  in  the  suburbs  of  heaven.  In  this  his  languid  but  happy  state, 


Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  Sixpenny  Edition,  1863,  pp.  1-8. 


Age  47  ] FUtchcr  at  Wesleys  Bristol  Conference.  397 


he  addressed  the  Conference,  on  their  work  and  his  own  views,  in  a 
strain  of  holy  and  pathetic  eloquence,  which  no  language  of  mine  can 
adequately  express.  The  influence  of  his  spirit  and  pathos  seemed  to 
bear  down  all  before  it.  I never  saw  such  an  instantaneous  effect  pro- 
duced in  a religious  assembly,  either  before  or  since.  He  had  scarcely 
pronounced  a dozen  sentences  before  a hundred  preachers,  to  speak  in 
round  numbers,  were  immersed  in  tears.  Time  can  never  efface  from 
my  mind  the  recollection  and  image  of  what  I then  felt  and  saw.  Such 
a scene  I never  expect  to  witness  again  on  this  side  eternity.  Mr. 
Wesley,  in  order  to  relieve  his  languid  friend  from  the  fatigue  and  injury 
which  might  arise  from  a too  long  and  arduous  exertion  of  the  lungs 
through  much  speaking,  abruptly  kneeled  down  at  his  side,  the  whole 
congress  of  preachers  doing  the  same,  while,  in  a concise  and  energetic 
manner,  he  prayed  for  Mr.  Fletcher^s  restoration  to  health  and  a longer 
exercise  of  his  ministerial  labours.  Mr.  Wesley  closed  his  prayer  with 
the  following  prophetic  promise,  pronounced  in  his  peculiar  manner, 
and  with  a confidence  and  emphasis  which  seemed  to  thrill  through 
every  heart,  ^ He  SHALL  NOT  DIE,  BUT  LIVE,  AND  DECLARE  THE  WORKS 
OF  THE  Lord.’  The  event  verified  the  prediction.  Air.  Fletcher  lived 
for  eight  succeeding  years,  exerting  all  the  zeal  of  a primitive  missionar}q 
and  enjoying  all  the  esteem  of  a holy  patriarch. 

“I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  high  regard  and  esteem,  your  sincere  friend 
and  humble  servant, 

‘‘David  Lloyd. 

Remembering  the  position  which  Fletcher  had  occupied^ 
during  the  last  six  years,  as  the  valiant  and  greatly  abused 
expounder  and  defender  of  Wesley’s  Anti-Calvinian  doctrines, 
and  also  bearing  in  mind  the  heavenly-mindedness  in  which 
Fletcher  was  now  living,  and,  apparently,  dying,  there  is  no 
room  to  wonder  at  Mr.  Lloyd’s  account,  or  to  doubt  of  its 
being  strictly  accurate.  Who  can  adequately  conceive  the 
influence  of  Fletcher’s  visit  on  the  piety  and  usefulness  of 
Wesley’s  conclave  of  Itinerant  Preachers  ? This  is  one  of 
the  secrets  to  be  revealed  hereafter. 

Another  incident,  belonging  to  this  period,  must  be  intro- 
duced. James  Rogers  was  now  a young  Itinerant  of  five 
years’  standing,  but  already  possessed  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  Wesley,  and  afterwards  had  the  honour  of  seeing 
Wesley  die.  No  doubt,  all  of  Wesley’s  Preachers,  at  this 
time  assembled  in  Bristol,  would  have  been  delighted  to  be 
introduced  to  poor  Fletcher  at  Brislington  ; but,  on  account 
of  his  state  of  health,  this  was  a privilege  not  many  were 


“ Life  of  Adam  Clarke,  LL.D.,”  by  Rev.  Samuel  Dunn,  p.  127. 


398 


TVes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


permitted  to  enjoy.  James  Rogers  was  one  of  the  favoured 
few,  and  he  shall  be  allowed,  in  his  own  artless  way,  to  tell 
the  story  of  his  interview,  and  of  an  open-air  sacramental 
service.  During  the  previous  year,  he  had  been  stationed 
in  Edinburgh  ; now  he  was  appointed  to  Cornwall.  He 
writes  : — 

In  the  year  1777,  I was  appointed  to  labour  in  the  east  of  Cornwall. 
A journey  of  between  four  and  five  hundred  miles  was  no  small  fatigue, 
in  my  then  weak  state  of  body  ; but  the  Lord  was  with  me.  I took  my 
appointment  as  from  God,  and  set  out  in  His  name,  and  found  sweet 
communion  with  Him  in  the  way. 

I had  long  desired  to  see  that  most  eminently  pious  man  of  God, 
Mr.  Fletcher ; and  now  an  opportunity  offered.  Stopping  at  Bristol  a 
few  days,  to  rest  myself  and  horse,  I heard  of  his  being  at  Mr.  Ireland’s, 
about  three  miles  off,  and,  with  two  of  my  brethren,  took  a ride  to  see 
him.  When  we  came  there,  he  was  returning  from  a ride,  which  he 
was  advised  by  his  physician  to  take  every  day.  Dismounting  from  his 
horse,  he  came  to  us  with  arms  spread  open,  and  eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven. 
His  apostolic  appearance,  with  the  whole  of  his  deportment,  greatly 
affected  me.  The  first  words  he  spoke,  while  yet  standing  in  the  stable 
by  his  horse,  were  a part  of  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  St.  John’s  Gospel. 
He  pointed  out  from  thence  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  the  great 
promise  of  the  Father,  and  the  privilege  of  all  New  Testament  believers, 
in  a manner  I had  never  heard  before.  My  soul  was  dissolved  into 
tenderness,  and  became  as  melting  wax  before  the  fire. 

As  an  invidious  report  had  been  spread^  that  he  had  renounced  what 
he  had  lately  written  against  Calvinism,  I took  the  liberty  to  mention 
the  report,  and  asked  him  what  he  thought  had  given  rise  to  it  ? He 
replied,  he  could  not  tell,  except  that  he  had  refrained  from  speaking 
on  controverted  points  since  he  came  to  Mr.  Ireland’s  : partly,  by  reason 
of  the  poor  state  of  his  health  ; and  partly,  because  he  did  not  wish  to 
grieve  his  kind  friend,  by  making  his  house  a field  of  controversy  ; but 
he  assured  us,  he  had  not  seen  cause  to  repent  of  what  he  had  written 
in  defence  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley’s  ‘ Minutes.’  And,  though  he 
believed  his  close  application  to  study  had  been  the  means  of  reducing 
his  body  to  the  state  in  which  we  then  saw  it,  yet,  he  said,  if  he  fell  a 
victim,  it  was  in  a good  cause. 

‘‘After  a little  conversation  upon  his  darling  topic,  the  universal  love 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  we  were  about  to  take  our  leave,  when  Mr. 
Ireland  sent  his  footman  into  the  yard  with  a bottle  of  red  wine,  and 
some  slices  of  bread  upon  a waiter.  We  all  uncovered  our  heads,  while 
Mr.  Fletcher  craved  a blessing  upon  the  same ; which  he  had  no  sooner 
done,  than  he  handed  first  the  bread  to  each,  and,  lifting  up  his  eyes 
to  heaven,  pronounced  these  words,  ‘The  body  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
which  was  given  for  thee,  preserve  thy  body  and  soul  unto  everlasting 
life.’  Afterwards,  handing  the  wine,  he  repeated  in  like  manner,  ‘ The 


Age  47.] 


Letter  to  Rev.  Vincent  Perronet. 


399 


blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ/  etc.  Such  a sacrament  I never  had 
before.  A sense  of  the  Divine  presence  rested  upon  us  all ; and  we 
were  melted  into  floods  of  tears.  His  worthy  friend,  Mr.  Ireland,  grieved 
to  see  him  exhaust  his  little  strength  by  so  much  speaking,  took  him 
by  the  arm,  and  almost  forced  him  into  the  house;  while  he  kept  looking 
wistfully,  and  speaking  to  us,  as  long  as  we  could  see  him.  We  then 
mounted  our  horses,  and  rode  away.  That  hour  more  than  repaid  me 
for  my  whole  journey  from  Edinburgh  to  Cornwall.’’^ 

The  scene  so  simply  described  is  worthy  of  being  painted 
by^  an  artistic  Methodist. 

About  the  same  time,  Fletcher  wrote  as  follows  to  the 
venerable  Vicar  of  Shoreham,  the  Rev.  Vincent  Perronet. 

1777,  September  6.  My  very  dear  father, — I humbly  thank  you  for 
the  honour  and  consolation  of  your  two  kind  letters.  Your  vouchsafing 
to  remember  a poor,  unprofitable  worm,  is  to  me  a sure  token  that  my 
heavenly  Father  remembers  me.  He  is  God,  and  therefore  I am  not 
consumed.  He  is  a merciful,  all-gracious  God,  and  therefore  I am 
blessed  with  sympathizing  friends  and  gracious  helpers  bn  all  sides. 
O Sir ! if  in  this  disordered,  imperfect  state  of  the  Church,  I meet  with 
so  much  kindness,  what  shall  I not  meet  with,  when  the  millennium 
you  pray  for  shall  begin  ? O that  the  happy  thought,  the  glorious  hope 
may  animate  me  to  perfect  holiness  in  the  fear  of  God ; that  I may  be 
accounted  worthy  to  escape  the  terrible  judgments,  which  will  make 
way  for  that  happy  state  of  things,  and  that  I may  have  a part  in  the 
first  resurrection,  if  I am  numbered  among  the  dead  before  that  happy 
period  begin  ! 

“ ‘ Oh  ! for  a firm  and  lasting  faith. 

To  credit  all  the  Almighty  saith  ! 

To  embrace  the  promise  of  His  Son, 

And  call  that  glorious  rest  our  own  ! ’ 

‘‘We  are  saved  by  hope  at  this  time;  but  hope  that  is  seen  is  not 
hope.  Let  us  abound,  then,  in  hope  through  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost : so  shall  we  antedate  the  millennium,  take  the  kingdom,  and 
enjoy  beforehand  the  rest,  which  remains  for  the  people  of  God. 

“One  of  my  parishioners  brought  a horse,  last  week,  to  carry  me  home ; 
and  desired  to  walk  by  my  side  all  the  way.  By  the  advice  of  your  dear 
son,  Mr.  William  Perronet,  who  still  continues  to  bestow  upon  me  all 
the  help  I could  expect  from  the  most  loving  brother,  I sent  the  man 
back.  I thank  God,  I am  a little  stronger  than  when  I came  here.  I 
kiss  the  rod,  lean  on  the  staff,  and  wait  the  end.  I yesterday  saw  a 
physician,  who  told  me  my  case  is  not  yet  an  absolutely  lost  case.  But 
the  prospect  of  languishing  two  or  three  years  longer,  a burden  to  every- 


^ “Experience  and  Labours  of  James  Rogers,’^  written  by  himself, 
1796,  p.  22. 


400 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1777- 


body,  a help  to  none,  would  be  very  painful,  if  the  will  of  God  and  the 
covenant  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  did  not  sanctify  all  circumstances,  and 
dispel  every  gloom.  I remember,  with  grateful  joy,  the  happy  days  I 
spent  at  Shoreham  : Tecum  vivere  amem  ; tecum  obeam  lubens.  But, 
what  is  better  still,  I shall  live  with  the  Lord  and  with  you  for  ever  and 
ever. 

Your  obliged  servant  and  affectionate  son, 

J.  Fletcher.”  * 

The  next  letter  has  not  before  been  published.  It  was 
addressed  to  the  lady  who  afterwards  became  his  wife  : — 

‘'Bristol,  October  20,  1777. 

“ Dear  Madam, — The  hope  of  thanking  you  in  person  for  the  favour 
of  your  friendly  directions,  as  well  as  bodily  weakness,  has  prevented 
me  sending  you  a letter  full  of  grateful  acknowledgments.  But,  as 
Providence  may  postpone  your  intended  journey  to  Bath,  and  hasten 
mine  into  Spain,  or  into  eternity^  I trouble  you  with  these  lines  to  testify 
how  indebted  I am  to  you  for  thinking  of  admitting  me  into  the  number 
of  your  patients.  I have  not  tried  your  remedy  yet,,  because  the  gentle- 
men of  the  faculty,  who  have  attended  me  here,  say,  that,  though  it 
might  be  very  good  for  persons  of  a cold,  phlegmatic  habit  of  body,  it 
is  improper  for  those  who  are,  like  myself,  of  a dry,  bilious  habit.  I 
have  taken  the  bark  and  rhubarb  for  some  days,  and  I thought  yesterday 
that  the  former  medicine  had  removed  the  spitting  of  blood  ; but  to-night 
it  has  again  made  its  appearance.  However,  I think  I can  speak  a 
little  better,  though  I cannot  bear  the  motion  of  a horse  so  well  as  I 
could  two  months  ago. 

“ All  is  well  that  comes  from  our  heavenly  Friend  and  Physician. 
Shall  we  receive  the  sweet  at  His  hands,  and  not  the  bitter  ? Is  not 
His  every  dispensation  of  providence  and  grace  to  be  received  with 
thankfulness  ? I would  not  get  well  against  His  will  for  all  the  world, 
and  for  what  I esteem  more  than  all  the  world, — the  pleasure  of  seeing 
those  whom  He  has  chosen  out  of  the  world.  If  Providence  parts  us  on 
earth,  we  shall  meet  in  heaven. 

“I  have  had  it,  however,  in  my  thoughts  to  antedate  that  pleasure 
with  respect  to  you  and  your  devoted  family  I was  once  going  to  take 
the  pen  to  ask  your  leave  to  enter  and  die  under  your  friendly  roof ; but 
the  fear  of  troubling  you  and  taking  a step  contrary  to  the  leadings  of 
Providence,  made  me  decline.  If  you  have  not  a poor  Lazarus  at  your 
door  to  trouble  you,  you  have  Lazarus^s  Friend  in  your  sight  and  heart, 
to  comfort  and  save  you.  May  He,  every  day,  appear  more  glorious  in 
your  sight,  and  may  you,  every  hour,  drink  deeper  into  His  Spirit ! 

“ My  Christian  love  waits  upon  Mrs.  Crosby,  Miss  Hurrel,  and  Miss 
Ritchie.®  I hope  the  Lord  binds  you  each  day  closer  to  Himself  and  to 


1 Benson’s  ” Life  of  Fletcher.” 

2 Miss  Bosanquet  kept  an  orphanage,  wholly  at  her  own  expense. 

3 Three  grand  old  Methodists,  and,  at  least,  one  of  them  a preacheress. 


Age  48.]  Original  Letter  to  Miss  Bosanquet. 


401 


each  other,  and  enables  you  to  see  and  experience  the  glory  of  the 
promise  made  to  the  daughters  and  handmaids,  as  well  as  to  the  sons 
and  servants  of  the  Lord.  Oh,  what  a day  when  we  shall  all  be  so 
filled  with  power  from  on  high,  as  to  go  forth  and  prophesy,  and  water 
the  Lord’s  drooping  plants  and  barren  parched  garden  with  rivers  of 
living  water  flowing  from  our  own  souls  ; and  when  an  ardent  fire  of 
Divine  love  will  make  us  put  our  candle  to  the  chaff  of  sin,  and  fire  all 
the  harvests  and  tents  of  the  Laodiceans  ! As  Abraham  saw  the  day 
of  Christy  our  first  Comforter , and  was  glad,  so  I see  the  day  of  the 
S;pirit,  our  other  Comforter , and  rejoice.  May  you  live  to  enjoy  it ! 
May  you  and  yours  hasten  it  by  the  pleadings  of  mighty  prayer ! To 
thank  the  Father  for  the  unspeakable  gift  of  His  Son  ; and  to  look  to 
both  for  the  fulness  of  that  other  gift  of  God,  for  that  well  of  living 
water  which  Christ  offered  to  the  woman  of  Samaria,  is  a blessed  work, 
in  which  I beg  you  would  assist  your  obliged  brother, 

“J.  Fletcher. 

Miss  Bosanquet, 

At  Cross  Hall, 

Near 

Yorkshire,  by  Manchester.” 

Bristol  postmark. 

In  another  letter  to  Miss  Bosanquet,  written  about  the 
same  time,  he  remarked  : — 

I calmly  wait,  in  unshaken  resignation,  for  the  full  salvation  of  God: 
ready  to  trust  Him,  to  venture  on  His  faithful  love  and  on  the  sure 
mercies  of  David,  either  at  midnight,  noonday,  or  cock-crowing  : for 
my  time  is  in  His  hand,  and  His  time  is  best,  and  shall  be  my  time. 
Death  has  lost  his  sting ; and  I know  not  what  hurry  of  spirits  is,  or 
v^hat  are  unbelieving  fears,  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  His  unspeakable  gift.”^ 

At  the  same  period,  Fletcher  commenced  a correspond- 
ence with  another  distinguished  lady,  the  Right  Hon.  Lady 
Mary  Fitzgerald,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Bristol,  and  aunt 
of  Lord  Liverpool.  She  had  been  married  to  George 
Fitzgerald,  Esq.,  and,  for  about  twelve  years  past,  had  been 
an  exemplary  member  of  the  Methodist  Society.  The  friend- 
ship between  her  and  Wesley  was  great,  and  Wesley  visited 
her  only  nine  days  before  his  death.  In  18 1 5,  at  the  age  of 
ninety,  her  clothing  caught  fire,  and  she  died,  her  last  words 
being,  “Come,  Lord  Jesus,  my  blessed  Redeemer,  come  and 
receive  my  spirit In  conformity  with  a clause  in  her  will. 


Mrs.  Fletcher’s  ‘^Letter  to  Mons.  H.  L.  De  la  Flechere,”  1786,  p.  35. 

26 


402 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


her  remains  were  interred  in  the  burial  ground  at  the  front 
of  City  Road  Chapel ; and,  in  memory  of  her,  there  is  a 
plain  white  marble  tablet  in  that  sacred  edifice.^  The  fol- 
lowing is  an  extract  from  Fletcher’s  letter  to  this  Methodist 
lady : — 

‘‘  October  21,  1777* 

''  Honoured  and  Dear  Madam, — The  honour  of  your  Christian 
letter  humbles  me ; and  the  idea  of  your  taking  half-a-dozen  steps, 
much  more  that  of  your  taking  a journey,  to  consult  so  mean  a creature 
as  myself,  lays  me  in  the  dust.  My  brothers  and  sisters  invite  me  once 
more  to  breathe  my  native  air,  and  the  physicians  recommend  to  me  a 
journey  to  the  continent.  If  I go,  I shall  probably  pass  through  London, 
and,  in  that  case,  I could  have  the  honour  of  waiting  upon  you.  I say, 
probably,  because  I shall  have  to  accompany  my  friend  and  a serious 
family,  who  intend  to  spend  the  winter  in  the  south  of  France,  or  in 
Spain  ; and  I do  not  yet  know  whether  they  design  to  embark  at  Dover, 
or  at  some  port  in  the  west  of  England. 

“You  have  been  afflicted  as  well  as  myself.  May  our  maladies  yield 
the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness,  complete  deadness  to  the  world, 
and  increased  faith  in  the  mercy,  love,  and  power  of  Him,  who  supports 
under  the  greatest  trials,  and  can  make  our  extremity  of  weakness  an 
opportunity  of  displaying  the  greatness  of  His  power  ! 

“I  have  taken  the  bark  for  some  days,  and  it  seems  to  have  been 
blessed  to  the  removal  of  my  spitting  of  blood.  Time  will  decide  whether 
it  be  a real  removal,  or  only  a suspension  of  that  symptom.  Either  will 
prove  a blessing,  as  His  will  is  our  health.  To  live  singly  to  God,  the 
best  method  is  to  desire  it  in  meekness ; to  spread  the  desire  in  quiet- 
ness before  Him  who  inspires  it ; to  offer  Him  now  all  we  have  and  are, 
as  we  can  ; and  to  open  our  mouth  of  expectation  wide,  that  He  may 
fill  it  with  all  His  fulness,  or  that  He  may  try  our  patience ^ and  teach 
us  to  know  our  total  hel^plessness.  With  respect  to  the  weeping  frame 
of  repentance,  and  the  joyous  one  of  faith,  they  are  both  good  alter- 
nately ; but  the  latter  is  the  better  of  the  two,  because  it  enables  us  to 
do,  and  suffer,  and  praise,  which  honours  Christ  more.  Both  are 
happily  mixed.  May  they  be  so  in  you.  Madam,  and  in  your  unworthy 
and  obliged  servant, 

“J.  Fletcher. ’’2 

To  another  lady,  Mrs.  Thornton,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

“ I spend  more  time  in  giving  my  friends  an  account  of  my  health, 
than  the  matter  is  worth.  You  will  see  by  the  enclosed,  which  I beg 
you  to  send  to  the  post,  when  you  have  shown  it  to  Mr.  John  and 
Charles  Wesley,  how  their  poor  servant  does.  I am  kept  in  sweet 


^ Stevenson^ s “ City  Road  Chapel.’^ 
^ Letters,  1791,  p.  256. 


Age  48.]  Fletcher  Preparing  to  leave  England. 


403 


peace,  and  am  looking  for  the  triumphant  joy  of  my  Lord,  and  for  the 
fulness  expressed  in  these  words,  which  sweetly  filled  the  sleepless  hours 
of  last  night, — 

^ Drawn — and  redeem’d — and  seal’d, 

I bless  the  One  and  Three  ; 

With  !Father,  Son,  and  Spirit  fill’d 
To  all  eternity.’ 

‘‘With  respect  to  my  body,  I sleep  less,  and  spit  more  blood  than 
I did  when  you  were  here,  nor  can  I bear  the  least  trot  of  an  easy  horse. 
If  this  continues  many  days,  instead  of  thinking  to  go  and  see  my 
friends  on  the  continent,  I shall  turn  my  steps  to  my  earthly  home,  to 
be  ready  to  lay  my  bones  in  my  churchyard.  Two  of  my  parishioners 
came  to  convey  me  safe  home,  and  had  persuaded  me  to  go  with  them 
in  a post-chaise ; but  I had  so  bad  a night  before  the  day  that  I was  to 
set  out,  that  I gave  it  up.  I have  nothing  to  look  at  but  Jesus  and  the 
grave.  May  I so  look  at  them,  as  to  live  in  my  Resurrection  and  my 
life  ; and  die  in  all  the  meekness  and  holiness  of  my  Lord  and  my  all.”^ 

Fletcher  having  decided  to  go  to  the  continent,  it  became 
necessary  to  arrange  monetary  and  other  matters  before  he 
started.  To  two  of  his  friends  at  Madeley,  Mr.  Thomas 
York  and  Mr.  Daniel  Edmunds,  he  wrote  as  follows  : — 

“Bristol,  November,  1777. 

“ My  Dear  Friends, — The  debt  of  gratitude  I owe  to  a dying  sister, 
who  once  took  a long  journey  to  see  me,  when  I was  ill  in  Germany, 
and  whom  I just  stopped  from  coming,  last  winter,  to  Newington  to 
nurse  me, — the  unanimous  advice  of  the  physicians  whom  I have  con- 
sulted,— and  the  opportunity  of  travelling  with  serious  friends, — have  at 
last  determined  me  to  remove  to  a warmer  climate.  As  it  is  very  doubt- 
ful whether  I shall  be  able  to  stand  the  journey;  and,  if  I do,  whether 
I shall  be  able  to  come  back  to  England ; and,  if  I come  back,  whether 
I shall  be  able  to  serve  my  church,  it  is  right  to  make  what  provision 
I can  to  have  it  properly  served  while  I live,  and  to  secure  some  spiritual 
assistance  to  my  serious  parishioners  when  I shall  die. 

“I  have  attempted  to  build  a house  in  Madeley  Wood,  about  the 
centre  of  my  parish,  where  I should  be  glad  the  children  might  be  taught 
to  read  and  write  in  the  day,  and  the  grown-up  people  might  hear  the 
Word  of  God  in  the  evening,  when  they  can  get  an  Evangelist  to 
preach  it  to  them  ; and  where  the  serious  people  might  assemble  for 
social  worship  when  they  have  no  teacher.  The  expense  of  that  build- 
ing, and  paying  for  the  ground  it  stands  upon,  have  involved  me  in 
some  difficulties  ; especially  as  my  ill  health  has  put  on  me  the  addi- 
tional expense  of  an  assistant. 


Letters,  1791,  pp.  249,  253. 


404 


Wesleys  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


If  I had  strength,  I would  serve  my  church  alone,  board  as  cheaply 
as  I could,  and  save  what  I was  able  to  do  from  the  produce  of  the 
living  to  clear  the  debt,  and  leave  that  little  token  of  my  love,  free  from 
encumbrances,  to  my  parishioners. 

^‘But,  as  Providence  orders  things  otherwise,  I have  another  object, 
which  is  to  secure  a faithful  minister  to  serve  the  church  while  I live. 
Providence  has  sent  me  dear  Mr.  Greaves,  who  loves  the  people,  and  is- 
loved  by  them.  I should  be  glad  to  make  him  comfortable  ; and,  as  all 
the  care  of  my  flock,  by  my  illness,  devolves  upon  him,  I would  not 
hesitate  for  a moment  to  let  him  have  all  the  profit  of  the  living,  if  it 
were  not  for  the  debt  contracted  about  the  room.  My  difficulty  lies, 
then,  between  what  I owe  to  my  fellow-labourer,  and  what  I owe  to  my 
parishioners,  whom  I should  be  sorry  to  have  burdened  with  a debt 
contracted  for  the  room. 

*‘My  agreement  with  Mr.  Greaves  was  to  allow  him  forty  guineas  a 
year,  out  of  which  I was  to  deduct  twelve  for  his  board ; but,  as  I 
cannot  board  him  when  I go  abroad,  I design  to  allow  him,  during  my 
absence,  ;^50  a-year,  together  with  the  use  of  my  house,  furniture, 
garden,  and  my  horse,  if  he  chooses  to  keep  one ; reserving  the  use  of 
a room,  and  a stall  in  the  stable,  to  entertain  the  preachers  who  help  us 
in  their  Round : not  doubting  but  that  the  serious  people  will  gladly 
find  them  and  their  horses  proper  necessaries. 

But  I know  so  little  what  my  income  may  be,  that  I am  not  sure  it 
will  yield  Mr.  Greaves  after  paying  all  the  expenses  of  the  living. 
Now  I beg  you  will  consult  together,  and  see  whether  the  Vicar’s 
income,  2>.,  tithes,  etc.,  etc.,  will  discharge  all  the  expenses  of  the  living, 
and  leave  a residue  sufficient  to  pay  a stipend  of  £^o.  I except  the 
royalty,  which  I have  appropriated  to  the  expense  of  the  Room.  If  it 
be,  well ; if  there  be  any  surplus,  let  it  be  applied  to  the  Room  ; if  there 
be  anything  short,  then  Mr.  Greaves  may  have  the  whole,  and  take  his 
chance  in  that  respect,  as  it  will  be  only  taking  the  Vicar’s  chance ; 
for  I doubt  if  sometimes,  after  necessary  charges  defrayed,  the  Vicars 
have  had  a clear  £50. 

I beg  you  will  let  me  know  how  the  balance  of  my  account  stands, 
that,  some  way  or  other,  I may  order  it  to  be  paid  immediately ; for,  if 
the  balance  is  against  me,  I could  not  leave  England  comfortably 
without  having  settled  the  payment.  A letter  will  settle  this  business 
as  well  as  if  twenty  friends  were  at  the  trouble  of  taking  a journey  ; and 
talking  is  far  worse  for  me  than  reading  or  writing. 

‘‘Ten  thousand  pardons,  my  dear  friends,  for  troubling  you  with  this 
scrawl  about  worldly  matters.  I am  quite  tired  with  writing,  but  I 
cannot  lay  by  my  pen  without  desiring  my  best  Christian  love  to  all  my 
dear  companions  in  tribulation,  and  neighbours  in  Shropshire ; espe- 
cially to  Mrs.  York,  Miss  Simpson,  Mrs.  Harper,  Mr.  Scott,  Winny 
Edmunds,  and  all  enquiring  friends.  Thank  Molly  for  her  good  manage.- 
ment,  and  tell  her  I recommend  her  to  our  common  Heavenly  Master. 
If  she  wants  to  go  to  London,  or  to  come  to  Bristol,  I shall  give  her 
such  a character  as  will  help  her  to  some  good  place.  I heartily  thank 


Age  48.] 


Farevodl  Letters. 


405 


Daniel,  both  as  churchwarden  and  as  receiver  and  house-steward ; and 
I beg  Mr.  York  to  pay  him  a proper  salary. 

“I  am,  in  the  best  bonds,  your  affectionate  neighbour,  friend,  and 
minister,  J.  Fletcher.”^ 

A letter  on  small  matters,  so  far  as  the  reader  is  con- 
cerned ; but  a letter  unveiling  Fletcher’s  heart,  and  exhibit- 
ing his  perfect  unworldliness.  The  following,  extracted  from 
a letter  to  Mr.  William  Wase,  reveals  other  characteristics  : — 

''Bristol,  November,  1777. 

" My  Dear  Brother, — Go  to  Mrs.  Cound,  and  tell  her,  I charge 
her,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  give  up  the  world,  to  set  out  with  all  speed 
for  heaven,  and  to  join  the  few  about  her  who  fear  God.  If  she  refuses, 
call  again ; call  weekly,  if  not  daily,  and  warn  her  from  me  till  she  is 
ripe  for  glory.  Tell  the  brethren  at  Broseley  that  I did  my  body  an 
injury  the  last  time  I preached  to  them  on  the  Green  ; but,  if  they  took 
the  warning,  I do  not  repine.  Give  my  love  to  George  Crannage  ; tell 
him  to  make  haste  to  Christ,  and  not  to  doze  away  his  last  days. 

" The  physician  has  not  yet  given  me  up  ; but,  I bless  God,  I do  not 
wait  for  his  farewell,  to  give  myself  up  to  my  God  and  Saviour.  I write 
by  stealth,  as  my  friends  here  would  have  me  forbear  writing,  and  even 
talking ; but  I will  never  part  with  my  privilege  of  writing  and  shouting, 
' Thanks  be  to  God  who giveth  us  the  victory  ’ over  sin,  death,  and  the 
grave  ^through  Jesus  Christ i"  To  Him  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever  ! 
Amen! 

To  his  congregation  in  Madeley  Church,  Fletcher  wrote  as 
follows  : — 


" Bristol,  November  26,  1777. 

"To  the  Brethren  who  hear  the  Word  of  God  in  the 
parish  church  of  Madeley. 

" My  Dear  Brethren, — I thank  you  for  the  declaration  of  your 
affectionate  remembrance,  which  you  sent  me  by  John  Owen,  the 
messenger  of  your  brotherly  love. 

"As  various  reasons  prevent  my  coming  to  take  leave  of  you  in 
person,  permit  me  to  do  it  by  letter.  The  hope  of  recovering  a little 
strength,  to  serve  you  again  in  the  Gospel,  makes  me  take  the  advice  of 
the  physicians,  who  say  that  removing  to  a drier  air  and  warmer  climate 
may  be  of  great  service  to  my  health. 

" I am  more  and  more  persuaded  that  I have  not  declared  unto  you 
cunningly  devised  fables,  and  that  the  Gospel  I have  had  the  honour 
of  preaching,  though  feebly,  among  you,  is  the  power  of  God  to 
salvation,  to  every  one  who  believes  it. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  34. 
Ibid,  p.  36. 


4o6 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1777- 


‘‘Want  of  time  does  not  permit  me  to  give  you  more  than  the  follow- 
ing directions.  Have,  every  day,  lower  thoughts  of  yourselves,  higher 
thoughts  of  Christ,  kinder  thoughts  of  your  brethren,  and  more  hopeful 
thoughts  of  all  around  you.  Love  to  assemble  in  the  great  congregation  ; 
but,  above  all,  love  to  pray  to  your  Father  in  secret ; consider  your 
Saviour;  and  listen  for  your  Sanctifier.  Wait  all  day  long  for  His 
glorious  appearing  within  you  ; and,  when  you  are  together,  by  suitable 
prayers,  proper  hymns,  and  enlivening  exhortations,  keep  up  your 
earnest  expectation  of  His  pardoning  and  sanctifying  love.  Let  not  a 
drop  satisfy  you ; desire  an  ocean.  Do  not  eat  your  morsel  by  your- 
selves, like  selfish,  niggardly  people,  but  be  ready  to  share  it  with  all. 
Let  every  one  with  whom  you  converse  be  the  better  for  your  con- 
versation. Be  burning  and  shining  lights  wherever  you  are.  Set  the 
fire  of  divine  love  to  the  hellish  stubble  of  sin.  Be  valiant  for  the  truth. 
Be  champions  for  love.  Be  sons  of  thunder  against  sin ; and  sons  of 
consolation  towards  humbled  sinners.  Be  faithful  to  your  God,  your 
king,  and  your  masters.  Let  not  the  good  ways  of  God  be  blasphemed 
through  any  of  you. 

“You  have  need  of  patience,  as  well  as  of  faith  and  power.  You 
must  learn  to  suffer,  as  well  as  do  the  will  of  God.  Think  it  not  strange 
to  pass  through  fiery  trials.  Let  your  faith  be  firm  in  a tempest.  Let 
your  hope  in  Christ  be  as  a sure  anchor  cast  within  the  veil ; and  your 
patient  love  will  soon  outride  the  storm.  God  is  the  same  merciful  and 
faithful  God,  ^yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever. ^ Believe  in  His  three- 
fold name.  Rejoice  in  every  degree  of  His  great  salvation.  Triumph 
in  hope  of  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed.  Do  not  forget  to  be  thankful 
for  a cup  of  water  ; much  less  for  being  out  of  hell,  for  the  means  of 
grace,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  the  blood  of  Jesus,  the  communion  of 
saints  on  earth,  and  the  future  glorification  of  saints  in  heaven.  Strongly, 
heartily  believe  every  Gospel  truth,  especially  the  latter  part  of  the 
Apostles’  Creed.  Believe  it  till  your  faith  becomes  the  substance  of  the 
eternal  life  you  hope  for  ; and  then,  come  life,  come  death,  either  or 
both  will  be  welcome  to  you,  as,  through  grace,  I find  they  are 
to  me. 

“ If  I am  no  more  permitted  to  minister  to  you  in  the  land  of  the 
living,  I rejoice  at  the  thought  that  I shall,  perhaps,  be  allowed  to 
accompany  the  angels,  who,  if  you  continue  in  the  faith,  will  be  com- 
missioned to  carry  your  souls  into  Abraham’s  bosom.  If  our  bodies  do 
not  moulder  away  in  the  same  grave,  our  spirits  shall  be  sweetly  lost  in 
the  same  sea  of  divine  and  brotherly  love.  I hope  to  see  you  again  in 
the  flesh  ; but  my  sweetest  and  firmest  hope  is  to  meet  you  where  there 
are  no  parting  seas,  no  interposing  mountains,  no  sickness,  no  death, 
no  fear  of  loving  too  much,  no  shame  for  loving  too  little. 

“I  earnestly  recommend  you  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  great 
Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls,  to  the  brotherly  care  of  one  another,  and 
to  the  ministerial  care  of  my  substitute.  Should  I be  spared  to  come 
back,  let  me  have  the  joy  of  finding  you  all  of  one  heart  and  one  soul ; 
continuing  steadfast  in  the  Apostles’  doctrine,  in  fellowship  one  with 


Age  48.] 


Farewell  Letters. 


407 


another,  and  in  communion  with  our  sin-pardoning  and  sin-abhorring 
God.’^^ 

Immediately  after  the  date  of  this  pastoral  epistle,  in 
company  with  Mr.  Ireland,  two  of  his  daughters,  and  another 
family,  Fletcher  left  Brislington  for  the  south  of  France. 
During  a halt  at  Reading,  he  wrote  the  following  to  the 
Rev.  Vincent  Perronet,  the  venerable  vicar  of  Shoreham  : — 

Reading,  December  2,  1777. 

Honoured  and  Dear  Sir, — I acknowledge,  though  late,  the 
favour  of  your  letter.  I have  given  up  the  thought  of  going  to  my 
parish,  and  am  now  on  the  road  to  a warmer  climate.  The  Lord  may 
bless  as  much  the  change  of  air,  as  He  has  blessed  the  last  remedy  your 
son  prescribed  for  me — I mean  the  bark.  If  I should  mend  a little,  I 
would  begin  to  have  faith  in  your  prophecy.  In  the  meantime,  let  us 
have  faith  in  Christ,  more  faith  day  by  day,  till  all  the  sayings  of  Christ 
are  verified  to  us  and  in  us.  Should  I go  to  Geneva,  I shall  enquire 
after  the  Swiss  friends  of  my  dear  benefactors  at  Shoreham,  to  whose 
prayers  I humbly  recommend  myself  and  my  dear  fellow-travellers,  one 
of  whom,  my  little  god-daughter,  is  but  eight  weeks  old.” 

At  the  same  time,  and  on  the  same  sheet,  he  wrote  as 
follows  to  Miss  Damaris  Perronet  : — 

My  Dear  Friend, — I snatch  a moment  upon  the  road  to  acknow- 
ledge the  favour  of  your  letter,  and  to  wish  you  joy  in  seeing  the  Lord 
is  faithful  in  rewarding  as  well  as  punishing.  I once  met  a gentleman, 
an  infidel,  abroad,  who  said,  ‘ Men  have  no  faith  : if  they  believed  that 
by  forsaking  houses,  lands,  and  friends,  they  should  receive  a hundred- 
fold, they  would  instantly  renounce  all : for  who  would  not  carry  all 
his  money  to  the  bank  of  heaven,  to  receive  a hundredfold  interest  ? ’ 
The  Papists  have  made  so  bad  a use  of  the  doctrine  of  the  rewardable- 
ness  of  works,  that  we  dare  neither  preach  it,  nor  hold  it  in  a scriptural 
manner.  For  my  part,  I think  that  if  it  were  properly  received,  it  would 
make  a great  alteration  in  the  professing  world.  You  dare  receive  it ; 
try  the  mighty  use  of  it ; and  when  you  have  fully  experienced  it,  do 
not  keep  your  light  to  yourself,  but  impart  it  to  all  within  the  reach 
of  your  tongue  and  pen.  I am  glad  you  see  that  every  reward,  be- 
stowed upon  a reprieved  sinner,  has  free-grace  for  its  foundation,  and 
the  blood  of  Christ  for  its  mark.  May  the  richest  rewards  of  Divine 
grace  be  yours  in  consequence  of  the  most  exalted  faithfulness  ; and 
let  me  beseech  you  to  pray  that  I may  follow  you,  as  you  follow  Christ, 
till  our  reward  be  full.”  ^ 


* Letters,  1791,  p.  40. 

^ Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 

® Methodist  Magazine i 1804,  p.  520. 


4o8 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1777. 


Thus  did  Fletcher  leave  England,  reiterating  one  of  the 
great  truths  that  he  had  been  explaining  and  defending 
during  the  last  six  years.  On  the  next  day  after  the  date 
of  his  letter,  he  arrived  at  Stoke  Newington.  Wesley 
writes  : — 

Wednesday,  December  3,  1777.  I visited  as  many  of  the  sick  as  I 
could  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town ; and  spent  the  evening  at 
Newington,  with  Mr.  Fletcher,  almost  miraculously  recovering  from  his 
consumption.  On  Thursday,  December  4,  he  set  out,  with  Mr.  Ireland, 
for  the  south  of  France.”  ^ 


Wesley’s  Journal. 


Age  48.] 


yourney  to  the  South  of  France. 


409 


CHAPTER  XXL 

A LONG  RETIREMENT. 

1778 — 1781. 

WHEN  the  travellers  arrived  at  Dover,  Fletcher  wrote  as 
follows  to  his  hospitable  friends  at  Stoke  Newington: — 

Ten  thousand  blessings  light  upon  the  heads  and  hearts  of  my  dear 
benefactors,  Charles  and  Mary  Greenwood  ! May  their  quiet  retreat  at 
Newington  become  a Bethel  to  them  ! Their  poor  pensioner  travels  on, 
though  slowly,  towards  the  grave.  His  journey  to  the  sea  seems  to  him 
to  have  hastened,  rather  than  retarded,  his  progress  to  his  old  mother — 
Earth.  May  every  Providential  blast  blow  him  nearer  to  the  heavenly 
haven  of  his  Saviour's  breast;  where  he  hopes  to  meet  all  his  benefac- 
tors ! O,  my  dear  friends,  what  shall  I render  ? What  to  Jesus  ? what 
to  you  ? May  He,  who  invites  the  heavy-laden,  take  upon  Him  all  the 
burdens  of  kindness  you  have  heaped  on  your  Lazarus  ! And  may 
angels,  when  you  die,  find  me  in  Abraham’s  bosom,  and  bring  you  into 
minej  that  by  all  the  kindness  which  may  be  shown  in  heaven,  I may 
try  to  requite  that  you  have  shown  to  your  obliged  brother, 

“ J.  Fletcher.”  ^ 

Leaving  Calais  on  December  12,  1777,  the  travellers 
pursued  their  way  to  the  South  of  France.  Mr.  Ireland  thus 
described  the  journey  : — 

When  we  departed  from  Calais,  the  north  wind  was  very  high,  and 
penetrated  us  even  in  the  chaise.  We  put  up  at  Bretuil,  and  the  next 
day  got  to  Abbeville,  whence  we  were  forced,  by  the  miserable  accom- 
modation we  met  with,  to  set  out,  though  it  was  Sunday.  Hitherto  Mr. 
Fletcher  and  I had  led  the  way,  but  now  the  other  chaises  got  before 
us.  Nine  miles  from  Abbeville  our  axletree  gave  way  through  the  hard 
frost,  and  we  were  left  to  the  piercing  cold  on  the  side  of  a hill,  without 
shelter.  After  waiting  an  hour  and  a half,  we  sent  the  axletree  and 
wheels  back  to  be  repaired  ; and,  leaving  the  body  of  the  chaise  under 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  249. 


410 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


a guard,  procured  another  to  carry  us  to  the  next  town.  On  the  15th, 
our  chaise  arrived  in  good  repair.  The  country  was  covered  with  snow, 
but  travelling  steadily  forward,  we  reached  Dijon  on  the  27th.  During 
the  whole  journey,  Mr.  Fletcher  showed  marks  of  recovery.  He  bore 
both  the  fatigue  and  cold  as  well  as  the  best  of  us.  On  the  31st,  we  put 
up  at  Lyons,  and  solemnly  closed  the  year,  bowing  our  knees  before  the 
throne,  which  indeed  we  did  all  together  every  day.  January  4,  1778, 
we  left  Lyons,  and  came  on  the  9th  to  Aix.  Here  we  rest,  the  weather 
being  exceedingly  fine  and  warm.  Mr.  Fletcher  walks  out  daily.  He 
is  now  able  to  read  and  pray  with  us  every  morning  and  evening.  He 
has  no  remains  of  his  cough  nor  of  the  weakness  in  his  breast.  His 
natural  colour  is  restored,  and  the  sallowness  quite  gone.  His  appetite 
is  good,  and  he  takes  a little  wine.’^ 

In  another  letter  Mr.  Ireland  wrote  : — 

Soon  after  our  arrival  here,  I rode  out  most  days  with  my  dear  and 
valued  friend.  Now  and  then  he  complained  of  the  uneasiness  of  the 
horse,  and  there  were  some  remains  of  soreness  in  his  breast ; but  this 
soon  went  off.  The  beginning  of  February  was  warm,  and  the  warmth, 
when  he  walked  in  the  fields,  relaxed  him  ; but  when  the  wind  got  north 
or  east,  he  was  braced  again.  His  appetite  is  good  ; his  complexion  as 
healthy  as  it  was  eleven  years  ago.  As  his  strength  increases,  he 
increases  the  length  of  his  rides.  Last  Tuesday,  he  set  out  on  a journey 
of  a hundred  and  twelve  miles.  The  first  day  he  travelled  forty  miles 
without  feeling  any  fatigue  ; and  the  third  day  fifty-five.  He  bore  the 
journey  as  well  as  I did ; and  was  as  well  and  as  active  at  the  end  of  it 
as  at  the  beginning.  During  the  day,  he  cried  out,  ‘ Help  me  to  praise 
the  Lord  for  His  goodness  ; I never  expected  to  see  this  day.’  He 
accepted  a pressing  invitation  to  preach  to  the  Protestants  here  ; and 
he  fulfilled  his  engagement  on  Sunday  morning,  taking  as  his  text, 

' Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith.’  Both  the  French 
and  English  were  greatly  affected ; the  word  went  to  the  hearts  of  both 
saints  and  sinners.  His  voice  is  now  as  good  as  ever  it  was  ; and  he 
has  an  earnest  invitation  to  preach  near  Montpelier,  where  we  are  going- 
You  would  be  astonished  at  the  entreaties  of  pastors  as  well  as  people. 
He  has  received  a letter  from  a minister  in  the  Levine  Mountains,  who 
intends  to  come  to  Montpelier,  sixty  miles,  to  press  him  to  go  and 
preach  to  his  flock.  He  purposes  to  spend  the  next  summer  in  his  own 
country,  and  the  following  winter  in  these  parts.”  ^ 

It  was  probably  at  this  time  that  Fletcher  and  Mr.  Ireland 
made  a tour  through  Italy,  and  visited  Rome,  concerning 
which  visit  Wesley  writes  : — 

” While  he  was  at  Rome,  as  Mr.  Ireland  and  he  were  one  day  going 


Wesley’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  48.]  Original  Letter  to  Miss  Bosanquet.  41 1 


throug*!!  the  streets  in  a coach,  they  were  informed  the  Pope  was  coming, 
and  it  would  be  required  of  them  to  kneel  while  he  went  by,  as  all  the 
people  did  ; if  they  did  not,  in  all  probability  the  mob  would  knock  them 
on  the  head.  But  this  they  flatly  refused  to  do ; judging  the  paying 
such  honour  to  a man  was  idolatry.  The  coachman  was  terrified,  but 
turned  aside  into  a narrow  way.  The  Pope  was  in  an  open  landau, 
waved  his  hands,  and  frequently  repeated,  ‘ God  bless  you  all ! ’ Mr. 
Fletcher’s  spirit  was  greatly  stirred,  and  he  longed  to  bear  a public 
testimony  against  anti-Christ ; and  he  would  have  done  it  had  he  been 
able  to  speak  Italian.  He  could  hardly  refrain  from  doing  it  in  Latin, 
till  he  considered  that  only  the  priests  could  understand  him.”  ^ 

While  in  the  south  of  France,  Fletcher  wrote  to  Miss 
Bosanquet  the  following  letter,  which  is  now  for  the  first  time 
published : — 

''Marseilles,  March  7,  1778. 

" Dear  Madam, — Your  letter  did  not  reach  me  till  after  it  had  lain 
here,  at  the  post  office,  several  days. 

" I cannot  be  answerable  for  what  the  person  you  mention  thinks  of 
Mr.  Wesley  or  me,  or  our  sentiments.  Nothing  is  more  common  than 
to  see  people  drawing  rash  inferences  from  premises  which  are  partly 
false  and  partly  true.  I can  only  answer  for  myself,  and  for  what  I deem 
to  be  the  truth. 

" If  you  ask  me  what  I think  to  be  the  truth  with  respect  to  Christian 
perfection,  I reply,  my  sentiments  are  exposed  to  the  world  in  my  essay 
on  ' Christian  Perfection,’  and  in  my  essay  on  ' Truth,’  where  I lay  the 
stress  of  the  doctrine  on  the  great  ^promise  of  the  Father ^ and  on  the 
Christian  fulness  of  the  Spirit.  This  I have  done  more  particularly 
in  a treatise  on  the  ' Birth  of  the  Spirit ; ’ which  treatise  is  not  yet 
published.  I do  not  rest  the  doctrine  of  Christian  perfection  on  the 
absence  of  sin, — that  is  the  perfection  of  a dove  or  a lamb  ; nor  on  the 
loving  God  with  all  one' s ^ower,  for  I believe  all  perfect  Gentiles  and 
Jews  have  done  so  ; but  on  the  fulness  oi  that  superior,  nobler,  warmer, 
and  more ;powerful  love,  which  the  Apostle  calls  the  love  of  the  S;pirity 
or  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  given  to  the  Chris  - 
tian  believers,  who,  since  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  go  on  to  the  perfection 
of  the  Christian  dispensation. 

" You  will  find  my  views  of  this  matter  in  Mr.  Wesley’s  sermons  on 
Christian  Perfection  and  on  Spiritual  Christianity ; with  this  difference, 
that  I would  distinguish  more  exactly  between  the  believers  baptized 
with  the  Pentecostal  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  believer  who, 
like  the  Apostles  after  our  Lord’s  ascension,  is  not  yet  filled  with  that 
power. 

" I own  to  you.  Madam,  that  I have  been  much  surprised  to  see  the 
gross  inattention  to,  and  unbelief  of,  the  promise  of  the  Father  among 


Wesley’s  " Life  of  Fletcher.” 


412 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


believers  of  various  classes.  It  is  the  sun  among  the  stars,  and  yet 
some  can  hardly  distinguish  it.  When  I preached  it  to  the  Calvinists 
in  Wales,  they  called  it  Mr.  Wesley’s  whim.  When  I have  spoken  of 
it  to  our  brethren,  some  have  called  it  Lady  Huntingdon’s  whim;  and 
others  have  looked  upon  it  as  a new  thing ; which  to  me  is  the  strongest 
proof  that  this  capital  Gospel  doctrine  is  as  much  under  a cloud  now  as 
the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  was  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation. 

Should  you  go  back  by  way  of  London,  my  essay  on  the  Birth  by 
which  we  enter  into  the  Kingdom  in  the  Holy  Ghost  is  in  the  hands 
of  Miss  Thornton,  Mrs.  Greenwood’s  sister,  who  will  give  it  you  if  you 
think  worth  while  to  look  into  it.  I build  my  faith  not  on  my  experience, 
though  this  increases  it,  but  upon  the  revealed  truth  of  God.  Go, 
Madam,  and  do  the  same,  and  pray  for  your  affectionate  brother  and 
servant, 

‘‘  J.  FL|TCHER. 

Miss  Bosanquet, 

^'at  Mrs.  Southcot’s, 

Broad  Mead, 

Bristol.” 

The  ‘‘  treatise,''  or  rather  sermon,  referred  to  in  this  letter, 
was  written  in  French,  and  was  not  published  during  the 
lifetime  of  Fletcher;  but  in  I794»  Henry  Moore,  one  of 
Wesley's  first  biographers,  translated  and  printed  it,  with  the 
title,  ‘‘  The  New  Birth.  A Discourse  written  in  French,  by 
the  Rev.  John  Fletcher,  late  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Salop."  8vo, 
39  PP-  This  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  productions 
of  Fletcher's  pen  ; and  great  would  be  the  service  rendered 
to  the  cause  of  Christ  if,  in  this  day  of  loose  thinking  and 
carnal  living,  it  were  reprinted  in  a separate  form,  and  read 
by  the  myriads  who  call  themselves  Methodists.  Though 
mere  quotations  from  it  cannot  do  justice  to  it,  yet  two  or 
three  may  be  acceptable. 

Regeneration. — What  is  the  state  of  a soul  that  is  born  again  ; and 
in  what  does  regeneration  consist  ? In  general,  we  may  say,  it  is  that 
great  change  by  which  man  passes  from  a state  of  nature  to  a state  of 
grace.  He  was  an  animal  man ; in  being  born  again  he  becomes  a 
spiritual  man.  His  natural  birth  had  made  him  like  to  fallen  Adam — 
to  the  old  man,  against  whom  God  had  pronounced  the  sentence  of 
death,  seeing  it  is  the  wages  of  sin ; but  his  spiritual  birth  makes  him 
like  to  Jesus  Christ — to  the  new  man — which  is  created  according  to 
God  in  righteousness  and  true  holiness.  He  was  before  born  a child  of 
wrath — proud,  sensual,  and  unbelieving,  full  of  the  love  of  the  world  and 
of  self-love,  a lover  of  money  and  of  earthly  glory  and  pleasure,  rather 
than  a lover  of  God  ; but,  by  regeneration,  he  is  become  a child  and  an 


Age  48.]  Sermou  Concerning  the  New  Birth, 


413 


heir  of  God,  and  a joint  heir  with  Christ.  The  humility,  the  purity,  the 
love  of  Jesus,  is  shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by  the  Holy  Spirit  which  is 
given  to  him,  making  him  bear  the  image  of  the  Second  Adam.  He  is 
in  Christ  a new  creature  ; old  things  are  passed  away,  all  things  are 
become  new.  All  the  powers  and  faculties  of  his  soul  are  renovated. 
His  understanding,  heretofore  covered  with  darkness,  is  illuminated  by 
the  experimental  knowledge  which  he  has  of  God  and  of  His  Son  Jesus 
Christ.  His  conscience,  asleep  and  insensible,  awakes  and  speaks  with 
■ a fidelity  irreproachable.  His  hard  heart  is  softened  and  broken.  His 
will,  stubborn  and  perverse,  yields,  and  becomes  conformable  to  the 
will  of  God.  His  passions,  unruly,  and  earthly,  and  sensual,  submit  to 
the  conduct  of  grace,  and  turn  of  themselves  to  objects  invisible  and 
heavenly.  And  the  members  of  his  body,  servants  more  or  less  to 
iniquity,  are  now  employed  in  the  service  of  righteousness  unto  holiness.’^ 
Why  regeneration  is  necessary. — ‘‘  To  rejoice  in  the  pleasures  that 
are  at  God’s  right  hand,  it  is  needful  to  have  senses  and  a taste  that 
correspond  thereto.  The  swine  trample  pearls  under  their  feet.  The 
elevated  discourse  of  a philosopher  is  insupportable  to  a stupid  mechanic ; 
and  an  ignorant  peasant,  introduced  into  a circle  of  men  of  learning 
and  taste,  is  disgusted,  sighs  after  his  village,  and  declares  no  hour 
ever  appeared  to  him  so  long.  It  would  be  the  same  to  a man  w^ho  is 
not  regenerated,  if  we  could  suppose  that  God  would  so  far  forget  His 
truth  as  to  open  to  him  the  gate  of  heaven.  He  would  be  incapable  of 
those  transports  of  love  which  make  the  happiness  of  the  glorified  saints. 
It  would  be  insupportable  for  him  now  to  meditate  one  hour  on  the 
perfections  of  God ; what  then  shall  He  do  among  the  cherubim  and 
seraghim,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  jerfect^  who  draw  from 
thence  their  ravishing  delights  ? He  loves  the  pleasures  and  comforts 
of  an  animal  life ; but  are  these  the  same  with  the  exercises  of  the 
spiritual  life  ? His  conversations,  his  readings,  his  amusements,  as 
void  of  edification  as  of  usefulness,  rarely  fatigue  him  ; but  an  hour  of 
meditation  or  prayer  is  insufferable.  If  he  be  not  born  again,  not  only 
he  cannot  be  in  a state  to  rejoice  in  the  pleasures  of  Paradise,  any  more 
than  a deaf  man  to  receive  with  transport  the  most  exquisite  music ; 
but  the  ravishing  delights  of  angels  would  cause  in  him  an  insupportable 
distaste.  Yes,  he  would  banish  himself  from  the  presence  of  God,  rather 
than  pass  an  eternity  in  prostrating  himself  before  the  throne,  and  crying 
day  and  night.  Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  the  Lord  of  hosts,  who  is,  and  who 
was,  and  who  is  to  come  / We  conclude  that  the  gate  of  heaven  must 
be  opened  upon  earth  by  regeneration,  and  by  the  love  of  God,  or  that 
it  will  remain  shut  for  ever  ; and  that  a local  paradise  would  be  only  a 
sorrowful  prison,  to  a man  not  regenerated,  because,  carrying  nothing 
thither  but  depraved  and  earthly  appetites  and  passions,  and  finding 
nothing  there  but  spiritual  and  celestial  objects,  disgust  and  dissatis- 
faction would  be  the  consequence  ; and,  like  Satan,  his  own  mind  would 
be  his  hell.” 

Perorations  are  too  often  rhetorical  flourishes,  and  nothing 


414 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


more  ; but,  in  the  case  of  Fletcher,  they  were  the  outpourings 
of  a heart  overcharged  with  feeling.  The  following  is  the 
last  paragraph  in  the  remarkable  ‘‘Treatise”  from  which  the 
foregoing  extracts  are  taken  : — 

I conjure  you  by  the  majesty  of  that  God  before  whom  angels  rejoice 
with  trembling ; — by  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  who  may  speak  to  you  in 
thunder,  and  this  instant  require  your  soul  of  you  ; — by  the  tender  mercies, 
the  bowels  of  compassion  of  your  heavenly  Father,  which  are  moved  in 
your  favour,  all  ungrateful  as  you  are  ! — I conjure  you  by  the  incarnation 
of  the  Eternal  Word,  by  whom  you  were  created  ; — by  the  humiliation, 
the  pains,  the  temptations,  the  tears,  the  bloody  sweat,  the  agony,  the 
cries  of  our  great  God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ! — I conjure  you  by  the 
bonds,  the  insults,  the  scourgings,  the  robes  of  derision,  the  crown  of 
thorns,  the  ponderous  cross,  the  nails,  the  instruments  of  death  which 
pierced  His  torn  body ; by  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty,  the  poison  of 
which  drank  up  His  spirit ; by  that  mysterious  stroke  of  Divine  wrath, 
and  by  those  unknown  terrors  which  forced  Him  to  exclaim,  ‘ My  God, 
my  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  Me  ! ’ — I conjure  you  by  the  interests 
of  your  immortal  soul,  and  by  the  unseen  accidents  which  may  pre- 
cipitate you  into  eternity  ; — by  the  bed  of  death,  upon  which  you  will 
soon  be  stretched,  and  by  the  useless  sighs  which  you  will  then  pour 
out,  if  your  peace  be  not  made  with  God  ! — I conjure  you  by  the  sword 
of  Divine  justice,  and  by  the  sceptre  of  grace  ; — by  the  sound  of  the  last 
trumpet,  and  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  with 
ten  thousand  of  His  holy  angels ; — by  that  august  tribunal,  at  which 
you  will  appear  with  me,  and  which  shall  decide  our  lot  for  ever  ; — by 
the  vain  despair  of  hardened  sinners,  and  by  the  unknown  transports  of 
regenerate  souls ! — I conjure  you  from  this  instant  work  out  your  salvation 
with  fear  and  trembling  ! Enter  by  the  door  into  the  sheepfold.  Sell 
all  to  purchase  the  pearl  of  great  price.  Count  all  things  dung  and 
dross  in  comparison  of  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Let  Him  not  go  till  He  blesses  you  with  that  faith  which  justifies,  and 
that  sanctification  without  which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.  And, 
soon  transported  from  this  vale  of  tears  into  the  mansions  of  the  just 
made  perfect,  you  shall  cast  your  crown  of  immortal  glory  at  the  feet  of 
Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb  who  has  redeemed 
us  by  His  blood : to  whom  be  the  blessing,  and  the  honour,  and  the 
glory,  and  the  power  for  ever  and  ever  ! Amen.’^ 

It  is  time  to  return  to  Fletcher  in  the  south  of  France. 
At  the  close  of  his  sojourn  here,  he  wrote  as  follows  to  his 
curate,  Mr.  Greaves  : — 

My  Very  Dear  Brother, — I received  a letter  yesterday  from  my 
second  brother,  who  acquaints  me,  that  he  was  to  set  out  the  23rd  of 
last  month,  to  come  hither”  (Montpelier),  ''  and  take  me  to  my  native 
country,  where  my  sick  sister  wants  greatly  to  see  me  ; so  that,  if  it 


Age  48.] 


Fletcher's  Letter  to  his  Curate. 


415 


please  God,  I shall,  next  week,  leave  this  place.  The  winter  has  been 
uncommonly  rainy  and  windy ; and  even  last  week  we  had  half  an  inch 
of  snow.  The  climate  has,  nevertheless,  agreed  with  me  better  than 
England,  and,  as  a proof  of  it,  I need  only  tell  you,  that  I rode  last 
Friday,  from  Hieres,  the  orange  gardens  of  France,  hither,  which  is 
nearly  fifty  miles,  and  was  well  enough  to  preach  last  Sunday  in  French 
at  the  Protestant  Church.  Two  English  clergymen  came  to  hear  me, 
and  one  of  them  takes  these  lines  to  England,  where  I hope  they  will 
find  you  in  health  of  body  and  soul,  growing  in  strength  of  faith,  in  firm- 
ness of  hope,  and  in  fervency  of  love  to  God  and  man,  and  especially 
to  those  whom  you  are  tempted  to  think  hardly  of,  if  any  such  there  be. 
O my  dear  brother,  no  religion  will  do  us  or  our  people  any  good,  but 
that  which  ^ works  by  love,^ — humble,  childlike,  obedient  love.  May 
that  religion  fill  our  souls,  and  influence  all  our  tempers,  words,  and 
actions,  and  may  the  leaven  leaven  the  whole  lump  ! May  St.  James’s 
peaceable  religion  spread  through  all  our  parish  ! 

I hope  you  are  settled  to  your  satisfaction ; and  I shall  be  glad  to 
do  what  is  in  my  power  to  make  your  stay  at  Madeley  agreeable.  I 
wish  you  may  have  as  much  success  as  we  desire  ; but,  whatever  success 
we  have,  we  must  cast  our  bread  upon  the  waters,  though  we  should  see 
as  little  fruit  as  he  that  said  of  old,  * I have  laboured  in  vain  : ’ for  our 
reward  will  be  with  the  Lord,  if  not  with  men.”  ^ 

In  company  with  his  brother,  Fletcher  left  Montpelier, 
and  arrived  at  Nyon,  the  place  of  his  nativity,  where,  in  the 
house  once  occupied  by  his  father,  he  received  the  utmost 
attention  from  his  affectionate  relatives,  and  had  medical 
advice  equal  to  any  to  be  obtained  in  Europe.  One  of 
his  first  acts  was  to  write  “ to  the  Societies  in  and  about 
Madeley/'  He  addressed  them  as  My  dear,  very  dear 
brethren  charged  them  all  to  meet  him  in  heaven,  ‘‘with 
all  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ;"  and  sent  his  “love  and 
thanks  to  Mr.  Murlin  and  Mr.  Roberts,"  the  two  Methodist 
preachers  stationed  at  Chester,  showing  that  Madeley,  at 
this  period,  was  a part  of  the  Chester  circuit.^ 

Soon  afterwards,  he  wrote  to  his  beloved  medical  adviser, 
in  England,  Mr.  William  Perronet,  as  follows  : — 

Nyon,  May  15,  1778. 

The  climate,  and  prospect,  and  fine  roads,  and  pure  air  I enjoy 
here,  had  contributed  to  strengthen  me  a little ; when,  about  a month 
ago,  something  I was  chewing  got  into  my  windpipe,  and  caused  a fit 


1 Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

2 Letters,  1791,  p.  43. 


4i6 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


of  coughing  which  lasted  half-an-hour.  I then  began  to  spit  blood  again, 
and  ever  since  I have  had  a bad  cough,  which  has  sometimes  exercised 
me  violently  for  an  hour  after  my  first  sleep.  My  cough,  however,  has 
been  better  the  last  two  days,  and  I hope  it  will  go  off.  I have  bought 
a quiet  horse,  whose  easy  pace  I can  bear ; and  I ride  much.  I have 
not  ventured  upon  preaching  since  I came  hither:  it  would  be  impossible 
for  me  now  to  go  through  it.  If  the  weather  should  grow  hot,  I may, 
at  any  time,  go  to  the  hills,  the  foot  of  which  is  five  or  six  miles  distant. 
I drink  goats^  milk,  and  have  left  off  meat  since  the  cough  came  on, 
but  design  eating  a little  again  at  dinner.”^ 

Two  days  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Fletcher  was  at 
Macon,  whither  he  had  gone  to  meet  his  friend  Mr.  Ireland, 
on  his  return  from  Montpelier  to  England.  Whilst  he  was 
here,  he  wrote  two  letters,  which  must  be  quoted.  The  first, 
addressed  to  ‘‘The  Rev.  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,” 
was  as  follows  : — 

'‘  Macon,  in  Burgundy,  May  17,  1778. 

“ Rev.  and  Dear  Sirs, — I hope  while  I lie  by,  the  Lord  continues 
to  renew  your  vigour,  and  sends  you  to  water  His  vineyard,  and  to  stand 
in  the  gap  against  error  and  vice. 

“ I preached  twice  at  Marseilles,  but  was  not  permitted  to  follow  the 
blow.  There  are  few  noble,  inquisitive  Bereans  in  these  parts.  The 
ministers  in  the  town  of  my  nativity  have  been  very  civil.  They  have 
offered  me  the  pulpit ; but,  I fear,  if  I could  accept  the  offer,  it  would 
soon  be  recalled.  I am  loath  to  quit  this  part  of  the  field  without  casting 
a stone  at  that  giant,  sin,  who  stalks  about  with  uncommon  boldness. 

I shall,  therefore,  stay  some  months  longer,  to  see  if  the  Lord  will  give 
me  strength  to  venture  an  attack. 

“Gambling  and  dress,  sinful  pleasure  and  love  of  money,  unbelief 
and  false  philosophy,  lightness  of  spirit,  fear  of  man,  and  love  of  the 
world,  are  the  principal  sins  by  which  Satan  binds  his  captives  in  these 
parts.  Materialism  is  not  rare  ; Deism  and  Socinianism  are  very  com- 
mon ; and  a set  of  Free-thinkers,  great  admirers  of  Voltaire^  and 
Rosseau,  Bayle  and  Mirabeau,  seem  bent  upon  destroying  Christianity 
and  government.  If  we  believe  them,  the  world  is  the  dupe  of  kings 
and  priests.  Religion  is  fanaticism  and  superstition.  Subordination  is 
slavery.  Christian  morality  is  absurd,  unnatural,  and  impracticable ; 
and  Christianity  the  most  bloody  religion  that  ever  was.  And  here  it  is 
certain,  that,  by  the  example  of  Christians  so  called,  and  by  our  con- 
tinual disputes,  they  have  a great  advantage,  and  do  the  truth  immense 
mischief.  Fo^ery  will  certainly  fall  in  France,  in  this  or  the  next 


* Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Thirteen  days  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Voltaire,  in  Paris,  took 
a large  dose  of  opium,  without  the  advice  of  his  physicians,  and  died. 


Age  48.]  Letter  to  yohn  and  Charles  Wesley. 


417 


century ; and  I have  no  doubt  God  will  use  those  vain  men  to  bring 
about  a reformation  here,  as  he  used  Henry  the  Eighth  to  do  that  work 
in  England ; so  the  madness  of  His  enemies  shall,  at  last,  turn  to  His 
praise,  and  to  the  futherance  of  His  kingdom. 

“In  the  meantime,  it  becomes  all  lovers  of  the  truth  to  make  their 
heavenly  tempers,  and  humble,  peaceful  love  to  shine  before  all  men, 
that  those  mighty  adversaries,  seeing  the  good  works  of  professors, 
may  glorify  their  Father  who  is  in  heaven,  and  no  more  blaspheme  that 
worthy  name,  by  which  we  are  all  called  Christians. 

“If  you  ask,  what  system  these  men  adopt?  I answer,  some  build 
on  Deism  a morality  founded  on  self-;preservation,  self-interest ^ and 
self -honour . Others  laugh  at  all  morality,  except  that  which  being 
neglected  violently  disturbs  society.  And  external  order  is  the  decen 
covering  of  Fatalism,  while  Materialism  is  their  system. 

“Oh,  dear  Sirs,  let  me  entreat  you,  in  these  dangerous  days,  to  use 
your  wide  influence,  with  unabated  zeal,  against  the  scheme . of  these 
modern  Celsuses,  Porphyries,  and  Julians,  by  calling  all  professors  to 
think  and  speak  the  same  things,  to  love  and  embrace  one  another,  and 
to  firmly  resist  those  daring  men  ; many  of  whom  are  already  in  England, 
headed  by  the  admirers  of  Mr.  Hume  and  Mr.  Hobbes.  But  it  is  need- 
less to  say  this  to  those  who  have  made,  and  continue  to  make,  such  a 
stand  for  vital  Christianity ; so  that  I have  nothing  to  do  but  pray  that 
the  Lord  may  abundantly  support  and  strengthen  you,  and  make  you 
a continued  comfort  to  His  enlightened  people,  loving  reprovers  of  those 
who  mix  light  with  darkness,  and  a terror  to  the  perverse. 

“I  need  not  tell  you.  Sirs,  that  the  hour  in  which  Providence  shall 
make  my  way  plain  to  return  to  England,  to  unite  with  those  who  feel 
or  seek  the  power  of  Christian  godliness,  will  be  welcome  to  me.  O 
favoured  Britons  ! Happy  would  it  be  for  them,  if  they  knew  their 
Gospel  privileges  ! 

“My  relations  in  Adam  are  all  very  kind  to  me  ; but  the  spiritual 
relations,  whom  God  has  raised  me  in  England,  exceed  them  yet. 
Thanks  be  to  Christ,  and  to  His  blasphemed  religion  ! 

“I  am.  Rev.  Sirs,  your  aifectionate  son,  and  obliged  servant  in  the 
Gospel, 

“J.  Fletcher.” » 

On  the  day  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Fletcher  wrote 
the  following  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Conyers,  another  Methodist 
Clergyman,  to  whom  he  had  sent  his  '^Reconciliation;  or,  an 
easy  Method  to  unite  the  people  of  GodP  published  in  1777  : — 

“Macon,  in  Burgundy,  May  18,  1778. 

“Hon.  and  Dear  Sir, — I left  orders,  with  a friend,  to  send  you  a 
little  book  called  ‘ The  Reco7tciliat ion,'  in  which  I endeavour  to  bring 
nearer  the  children  of  God,  who  are  divided  about  their  partial  views 


Arminian  Magazme,  1788,  p.  384. 


4i8 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


of  divine  truths.  I know  not  whether  that  tract  has,  in  any  degree, 
answered  its  design  ; but  I believe  truth  can  be  reconciled  with  itself, 
and  the  candid  children  of  God  one  with  another.  O that  some  abler 
hand,  and  more  loving  heart,  would  undertake  to  mend  my  plan,  or 
draw  one  more  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God  ! My  eyes  are  upon 
dear  Sir,  and  those  who  are  like-minded  with  you,  for  this  work.  Dis- 
appoint not  my  hope.  Stand  forth,  and  make  way  for  reconciling  love, 
by  removing,  so  far  as  lies  in  you,  what  is  in  the  way  of  brotherly  union. 

O Sir  ! the  work  is  worthy  of  you.  If  you  saw  with  what  boldness 
the  false  philosophers  of  the  continent,  who  are  the  apostles  of  the  age, 
attack  Christianity,  and  represent  it  as  one  of  the  worst  religions  in  the 
world,  and  fit  only  to  make  the  professors  of  it  murder  one  another,  or 
at  least  to  contend  among  themselves,  and  how  they  urge  our  disputes 
to  make  the  Gospel  of  Christ  the  jest  of  nations,  and  the  abhorrence  of 
all  flesh,  you  would  break  through  your  natural  timidity,  and  invite  all 
our  brethren  in  the  ministry  to  unite  and  form  a close  battalion,  and 
face  the  common  enemy. 

O dear  Sir  ! take  courage.  Be  bold  for  reconciling  truth.  Be  bold 
for  peace.  You  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  strengthening  you  ; 
and,  as  Doctor  Conyers,  you  can  do  many  things,  a great  many  more 
than  you  think.  What  if  you  go.  Sir,  in  Christ’s  name,  to  all  the  Gospel 
ministers  of  your  acquaintance,  exhort  them  as  a father,  entreat  them 
as  a brother,  and  bring  them,  or  as  many  of  them  as  you  can,  together  ? 
Think  you  that  your  labour  would  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord  ? Impossible, 
Sir ! O despair  not.  If  you  want  a coach,  or  a friend  to  accompany 
you,  when  you  go  upon  this  errand  of  love,  remember  there  is  a Thornton 
in  London,  and  an  Ireland  in  Bristol,  who  will  wish  you  God  speed ; 
and  God  will  raise  many  more  to  concur  in  the  peaceful  work. 

‘^Let  me  humbly  entreat  you  to  go  to  work,  and  to  persevere  in  it. 
I wish  I had  strength  to  be,  at  least,  your  postilion  when  you  go.  I 
would  drive,  if  not  like  Jehu,  at  least  with  some  degree  of  cheerful 
swiftness,  while  Christ  smiled  on  the  Christian  attempt.  But  I am  con- 
fident you  can  do  all  in  the  absence  of  him,  who  is,  with  brotherly  love, 
and  dutiful  respect,  Hon.  and  dear  Sir,  your  obedient  servant  in  the 
Gospel, 

''J.  Fletcher.”^ 

Dr.  Conyers,  to  whom  this  letter  was  addressed,  was  a 
notable,  man.  Born  at  Helmsley,  Yorkshire,  in  1725,  he,  in 
due  time,  became  the  Vicar  of  that  extensive  parish.  His 
conversion  there,  and  his  labours,  were  remarkable.  In  1765, 
he  married  Mrs.  Knipe,  a rich  and  pious  widow,  the  sister  of 
the  well-known  John  Thornton,  Esq.,  of  Clapham.  Three 
years  before  the  foregoing  letter  was  written,  Mr.  Thornton 
presented  him  to  the  living  of  St.  Paul's,  Deptford  ; and 


Arminian  Magazine,  1788,  p.  386. 


Age  48.]  Estate  of  the  Perro7iet  Family  in  Switzerland,  4 1 9 


here  he  died  in  1786,  eight  months  after  the  death  of 
Fletcher.^  At  the  beginning  of  his  evangelical  career,  he 
was  warmly  attached  to  Wesley,  and  a firm  believer  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Arminians.  Afterwards,  he  was,  to  some 
extent,  influenced  by  certain  of  the  Calvinian  Ministers,  with 
whom  he  held  converse;  but,  like  his  brother-in-law,  John 
Thornton,  he  was  a lover  of  all  good  men  ; and,  occupying 
a kind  of  neutral  position  between  the  contending  parties, 
Fletcher  deemed  him  well  qualified  to  bring  about  the  recon- 
ciliation of  the  two. 

At  this  period,  the  venerable  Vicar  of  Shoreham  had  been 
recently  informed  that  he  was  entitled  to  a valuable  estate 
in  Switzerland,  and  William  Perronet,  Fletchers  medical 
adviser  in  England,  had  undertaken  to  visit  Switzerland  to 
enforce  his  father's  rights.  Before  doing  so,  however,  he 
wrote  to  Pdetcher,  requesting  his  advice  ; and  Fletcher’s 
reply  was  as  follows  : — 

‘‘Nyon,  June  2,  1778. 

*‘My  Dear  Friend, — When  I wrote  to  you  last,  I mentioned  two 
ladies  of  your  family  who  have  married  two  brothers,  Messrs.  Monod. 
Since  then,  they  have  requested  me  to  send  your  father  the  enclosed 
memorial,  which  I hope  will  prove  of  use  to  your  family.  As  the  bad 
writing  and  the  language  may  make  the  understanding  of  it  difficult,  I 
forward  you  the  substance  of  it,  and  of  the  letter  of  the  ladies’  lawyer. 

While  I invite  you  to  make  your  title  clear  to  a precarious  estate  on 
earth,  permit  me,  my  dear  Sir,  to  remind  you  of  the  heavenly  inheritance 
entailed  on  believers.  The  will,  the  New  Testament  by  which  we  can 
recover  it,  is  proved.  The  Court  is  just  and  equitable ; the  Judge  is 
gracious  and  loving.  To  enter  into  possession  of  a part  of  the  estate 
here,  and  of  the  whole  hereafter,  we  need  only  believe  and  prove 
evangelically  that  we  are  believers.  Let  us  then  set  about  it  now, 
with  earnestness,  with  perseverance,  and  with  a full  assurance  that, 
through  grace,  we  shall  carry  our  cause.  Alas  ! what  are  estates  and 
crowns  to  grace  and  glory  ? 

''  I have  had  a pull  back  since  I WTote  last.  After  I left  Mr.  Ireland 
at  Macon,  to  shorten  my  journey  and  enjoy  new  prospects,  I ventured 
to  cross  the  mountains  which  separate  France  from  this  country.  On 
the  third  day  of  the  journey,  I found  a large  hill,  whose  winding  roads 
were  so  steep  that,  though  we  fed  the  horses  with  bread  and  wine,  they 
could  scarcely  draw  the  chaise,  and  I was  obliged  to  walk  in  all  the 
steepest  places.  The  climbing  lasted  several  hours  ; the  sun  was  hot ; 
I perspired  violently ; and  the  next  day  I spit  blood  again.  I have 


^ Evangelical  Magazine,  1794. 


4-0 


M^es/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


chiefly  kept  to  goat’s  milk  ever  since;  I find  myself  better;  and  my 
cough  is  neither  frequent  nor  violent. 

‘^This  is  a delightful  country.  If  you  come  to  see  it,  and  to  claim 
the  estate,  bring  all  the  papers  and  memorials  you  can  collect;  and 
share  a pleasant  apartment,  and  one  of  the  finest  prospects  in  the 
world,  in  the  house  where  I was  born.  I design  to  try  this  fine  air  some 
months  longer.  We  have  a fine  shady  wood  near  the  lake,  where  I 
can  ride  in  the  cool  all  the  day,  and  enjoy  the  singing  of  a multitude  of 
birds.  But  this,  though  sweet,  does  not  come  up  to  the  singing  of  my 
dear  friends  in  England.  There  I meet  them  in  spirit  several  hours  in 
the  day.”  ^ 

The  ensuing  letter,  kindly  lent  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Knowles, 
of  Tunbridge  Wells,  has  not  before  been  published.  It  was 
addressed  to  Mr.  Power,  Druggist,  in  Broadmead,  Bristol, 
Angleterre.’' 

''Nyon,  y^une  20,  1778. 

Dear  Sir, — A journey  and  my  constant  rides  have  hindered  me 
acknowledging  sooner  the  favour  of  your  observations  and  criticisms, 
which  I received  some  time  ago.  If  I had  my  little  publications  here,  to 
turn  to  the  pages  you  quote,  I would  immediately  make  notes,  and  alter 
or  rectify  what  you  object  to,  as  a preparation  for  a more  correct  edition, 
should  the  work  be  ever  reprinted.  I wish  all  my  friends  had  taken  as 
much  pains  about  my  works  as  you  have.  Sir ; they  would  by  this  time 
be  more  correct.  Accept  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  favour ; and,  if  I 
live  to  see  England  again,  we  shall  (please  God)  talk  the  matter  over 
fully. 

‘‘  I am  obliged  to  you  for  your  caution  about  preaching.  I have 
followed  it,  and  have  not  yet  preached  in  this  country,  though  I believe 
I shall  soon  venture  again  upon  it,  but  with  care  and  in  a sparing 
manner.  I hope  at  least  the  Lord  will  give  me  grace  so  to  do. 

I heartily  rejoice  that  Mrs.  Power  has  been  carried  safely,  a second 
time,  through  the  danger  of  child-bearing.  May  she  and  the  two 
fruits  of  her  body  live  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  to  your  comfort ! Re- 
member me  kindly  to  her  ; and  give  my  blessing  to  my  god-son,  whose 
will,  I hope,  you  continue  to  break  with  the  wisdom,  patience,  and 
steadiness  which  become  a parent. 

I sent  your  mother  a few  lines  by  Mr.  Ireland.  I hope  she  received 
them  ; but  I shall  never  get  an  ansWer,  if  what  he  writes  me  is  true.  Is 
she  dead  indeed  ? Sometimes  I hope  it  is  a rumour  without  foundation  ; 
and  yet  his  account  that  she  died  at  Bath,  where  your  letter  mentions 
she  was  gone,  makes  me  fear  he  was  well-informed.  If  she  is  no  more, 
you  have  lost  a tender  mother,  and  I a kind  friend ; but  the  Lord  will 
make  up  all  our  losses,  and  has  already  made  them  up  by  giving  us 
His  Son.  May  we  receive  Him,  and  with  Him  all  that  is  excellent 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  263,  and  Benson’s  ‘‘Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  48.] 


Fletcher  among  Childi^en. 


421 


among  the  living  and  the  dead  ! As  she  has  been  for  many  years  a 
woman  of  sorrow, — a true  Hannah — ^wading  almost  constantly  through 
a sea  of  temptations,  they  may  have  followed  her  to  the  last,  and  she 
may  have  escaped  out  of  many  tribulations,  as  the  saints  mentioned  in 
the  Revelation.  A line  about  it,  and  about  your  welfare,  and  that  of  my 
god-son,  will  greatly  oblige,  dear  Sir,  your  obedient  and  already  obliged 
servant,  J.  Fletcher. 

''  My  love  to  your  brother,  when  you  see  him.’’ 

The  next  letter,  written  to  Mr.  Ireland,  contains  a sylvan 
scene  worthy  of  being  painted  : — 

''Nyon,  July  15,  1778. 

My  Dear  Friend, — I have  ventured  to  preach  once,  and  to  expound 
once  in  the  church.  Our  ministers  are  very  kind,  and  preach  to  the 
purpose.  A young  one  of  this  town  gave  us  lately  a very  excellent 
gospel  sermon. 

“ Grown-up  people  stand  fast  in  their  stupidity,  or  in  their  self- 
righteousness.  The  day  I preached,  I met  some  children  in  my  wood 
gathering  strawberries.  I spoke  to  them  about  our  common  Father. 
We  felt  a touch  of  brotherly  affection.  They  said  they  would  sing  to 
their  Father,  as  well  as  the  birds ; and  followed  me,  attempting  to 
make  such  melody  as  you  know  is  commonly  made  in  these  parts.  I 
outrode  them,  but  some  of  them  had  the  patience  to  follow  me  home; 
and  said  they  would  speak  with  me.  The  people  of  the  house  stopped 
them,  saying,  I would  not  be  troubled  with  children.  They  cried,  and 
said,  they  were  sure  I would  not  say  so,  for  I was  their  good  brother. 
The  next  day,  when  I heard  this,  I enquired  after  them,  and  invited 
them  to  come  and  see  me  ; which  they  have  done  every  day  since.  I 
make  them  little  hymns,  which  they  sing.  Some  of  them  are  unde, 
sweet  drawings.  Yesterday,  I wept  for  joy  on  hearing  one  of  them 
speak,  as  an  experienced  believer  in  Bristol  would  have  done,  of  con- 
viction of  sin,  and  of  the  joy  unspeakable  in  Christ  that  followed.  Last 
Sunday,  I met  them  in  the  wood ; there  were  a hundred  of  them,  and  as 
many  adults.  Our  first  pastor  has  since  desired  me  to  desist  from 
preaching  in  the  wood  (for  I had  exhorted),  for  fear  of  giving  umbrage  ; 
and  I have  complied,  from  a concurrence  of  circumstances  which  are 
not  worth  mentioning;  I therefore  now  meet  them  in  my  father’s 
yard.”  ^ 

What  a contrast  to  this  scene  of  gentleness  among  children 
is  the  following ! 

Fletcher  had  a nephew,  who  had  been  in  the  Sardinian 
army,  where  his  ungentlemanly  and  profligate  conduct  had 
given  such  general  offence  to  his  brother  officers  that  they 


Letters,  1791,  p.  264. 


422 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


determined  to  compel  him  to  leave  their  corps,  or  to  fight 
them  all  in  succession.  After  engaging  in  two  or  three 
duels,  with  various  success,  the  young  bravo  left  the  service, 
and  now,  during  Fletchers  present  visit,  he  returned  to 
Switzerland.  His  resources  were  soon  spent  in  profligacy  ; 
and,  gaining  access  to  his  uncle,  General  De  Gons,  he  pre- 
sented a loaded  pistol,  and  said,  “ Uncle  De  Gons,  if  you  do 
not  give  me  a draft  on  your  banker  for  five  hundred  crowns, 
I will  shoot  you.’'  The  General  was  a brave  man,  but, 
seeing  himself  in  the  power  of  a desperado  capable  of  any 
mischief,  he  wrote  the  draft.  ‘‘  Uncle,”  said  the  young 
fellow,  “ you  must  do  another  thing  ; you  must  promise  me, 
on  your  honour,  to  use  no  means  to  recover  the  draft,  or 
to  bring  me  to  justice.”  The  General  promised,  and  the 
bandit  rode  away  triumphantly.  Passing  the  door  of  his  uncle 
Fletcher,  he  called  upon  him,  and  told  him  General  De  Gons 
had  generously  given  him  five  hundred  crowns.  Fletcher 
doubted  the  truthfulness  of  this  statement.  The  draft  was 
produced.  “ Let  me  see  it,”  said  Fletcher.  It  was  handed 
to  him.  Fletcher  examined  it,  and  remarked,  ‘Tt  is  indeed  my 
brother’s  writing,  and  it  astonishes  me  ; because  my  brother  is 
not  wealthy,  and  I know  that  he  justly  disapproves  your  con- 
duct, and  that  you  are  the  last  in  the  family  to  whom  he  would 
make  such  a present.”  Then,  folding  the  draft  and  putting 
it  into  his  pocket,  Fletcher  added,  “ It  strikes  me,  young 
man,  that  you  have  obtained  this  draft  improperly  ; and,  in 
honesty,  I cannot  return  it  without  my  brother’s  approbation.” 
Out  came  the  pistol,  and  was  levelled  at  Fletcher’s  breast. 
‘‘  Return  it,”  cried  the  young  scoundrel,  “ or  I will  take  your 
life.”  My  life,”  calmly  replied  Fletcher,  is  secure  in  the 
protection  of  the  Almighty  Power  who  guards  it  ; nor  will 
He  suffer  it  to  be  the  forfeit  of  your  rashness,  or  my  in- 
tegrity. Do  you  think  that  I,  who  have  been  a minister  of 
God  for  five-and-twenty  years,  am  afraid  of  death  } It  is 
for  you  to  fear  death,  who  have  every  reason  to  fear  it. 
You  are  a gamester  and  a cheat,  yet  call  yourself  a gentle- 
man ! You  are  the  seducer  of  female  innocence,  and  still 
you  say  that  you  are  a gentleman  ! You  are  a duellist  and 
your  hand  is  red  with  blood,  and  for  this  you  call  yourself  a 
plan  of  honour  ! Look  there,  Sir ! look  there  ! See,  the  broad 


Age  48.] 


Messages  to  Madeley. 


423 


eye  of  heaven  is  upon  us.  Tremble  in  the  presence  of  your 
Maker,  who  can  in  a moment  kill  your  body,  and  for  ever 
damn  your  soul ! ” The  culprit  turned  pale  ; then  he  argued, 
threatened,  and  entreated.  Sometimes,  taking  out  his  pistol, 
he  fixed  himself  against  the  door  to  prevent  egress  ; and,  at 
other  times,  closed  on  frail  Fletcher,  menacing  him  with 
instantaneous  death.  All  was  of  no  avail.  The  poor 
country  parson  was  as  valorous  as  the  most  heroic  soldier. 
He  gave  no  alarm  to  the  family  ; he  sought  no  weapon  ; 
he  attempted  no  escape ; he  simply  conversed  with  the 
calmness  of  a hero  and  a saint.  At  length,  the  young  fellow 
began  to  be  affected  ; and  now,  having  gained  the  victory, 
Fletcher  addressed  him  in  another  strain  : “ I cannot  return 
my  brother  s draft,”  said  he  ; “ yet  I feel  for  your  distress, 
and  will  endeavour  to  relieve  it.  My  brother  Gons,  at  my 
request,  I am  sure  will  give  you  a hundred  crowns  ; I will 
do  the  same  ; perhaps  my  brother  Henry  will  do  as  much  ; 
and  I hope  your  own  family  will  make  up  the  five  hundred 
crowns  among  them.”  Fletcher  then  fell  upon  his  knees, 
and  began  to  pray  ; uncle  and  nephew  parted,  and  the 
family,  by  Fletcher’s  mediation,  furnished  the  young  scape- 
grace with  the  five  hundred  crowns  he  had  feloniously 
attempted  to  extort.^ 

Amidst  such  scenes,  Fletcher  did  not  forget  his  friends  at 
Madeley.  On  July  18,  he  wrote  three  messages  : — 

To  his  derate^  the  Rev.  Mr.  Greaves. — “ I trust  you  lay  yourself  out 
for  the  good  of  the  flock  committed  to  your  care.  I shall  be  glad  to 
hear  that  they  grow  in  grace,  and  humble  love.” 

To  the  congregation  in  Madeley  chitrch. — Fletcher  begs  a 
farther  interest  in  the  prayers  of  the  congregation  of  Madeley ; and 
desires  those,  who  assemble  to  serve  God  in  the  church,  to  help  him 
to  return  public  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  many  mercies  received ; 
especially,  for  being  able  to  do  a little  ministerial  duty.  He  humbly 
beseeches  them  to  serve  God  as  Christians,  and  to  love  one  another  as 
brethren  ; neglecting  no  means  of  grace,  and  rejoicing  in  all  the  hopes 
of  glory.” 

To  the  Methodist  Societies  in  Madeley  y Daw  ley,  and  the  Banks  T — 
' We  are  all  called  to  grow  in  grace,  and,  consequently,  in  love,  which 


Cox’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  129. 


424 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1778. 


is  the  greatest  of  all  Christian  graces.  Your  prayers  for  my  soul  and 
my  body  have  not  been  without  answer.  Blessed  be  God  ! Glory  be 
to  His  rich  mercy  in  Christ,  I live  yet  ^/le  life  of  faith;  as  to  my  body, 
I recover  some  strength.  God  bless  you  all,  with  all  the  blessings 
brought  to  the  Church  by  Christ  Jesus,  and  by  the  other  Comforter  ! 
My  love  to  the  preachers”  (John  Murlin  and  Robert  Roberts),  whom 
I beg  you  will  thank  in  my  name.”  ^ 

Two  months  later  (September  15),  he  wrote  to  his  friend 
Thomas  York  : — 

‘‘  Blessed  be  the  God  of  all  consolation,  though  I have  still  very  trying 
and  feverish  nights,  I am  kept  in  peace  of  mind ; resigned  to  His  will, 
who  afflicts  me  for  my  good,  and  justly  sets  me  aside  for  my  unprofit- 
ableness. His  grace  within,  and  His  people  without,  turn  my  trying 
circumstances  into  matter  of  praise.  Give  my  love  to  all  your  dear 
family ; to  the  two  or  three  who  may  yet  remember  me  at  Shififnal ; and, 
also,  to  Daniel,  and  desire  him,  when  he  gathers  the  Easter  dues,  to 
give  my  love  and  thanks  to  all  my  parishioners.”^ 

No  doubt  Fletcher’s  statement  to  Mr.  York,  respecting 
himself,  was  strictly  true  ; but,  still,  there  must  have  been 
a considerable  improvement  in  his  health  since  he  left 
England.  Hence  the  following  interesting  letter,  written  to 
Mr.  Ireland  only  ten  days  later  : — 

“Nyon,  September  2^, 

My  Dear  Friend, — I am  just  returned  from  an  excursion  I have 
made  with  my  brother,  through  the  fine  vale  in  the  midst  of  the  high 
hills  which  divide  France  from  this  country.  In  that  vale  we  found 
three  lakes,  one  on  French  ground,  and  two  on  Swiss : the  largest  is 
six  miles  long  and  two  wide.  It  is  the  part  of  the  country  where  industry 
is  most  apparent,  and  where  population  thrives  best.  The  inhabitants 
are  chiefiy  woodmen,  coopers,  watchmakers,  and  jewellers.  They  told 
me,  they  had  the  best  singing,  and  the  best  preacher,  in  the  country.  I 
asked,  if  any  sinners  were  converted  under  his  ministry  ? They  stared, 
and  asked,  what  I meant  by  conversion  ? When  I had  explained  myself, 
they  said,  ‘We  do  not  live  in  the  time  of  miracles.’ 

” I was  better  satisfied  in  passing  through  a part  of  the  vale  which 
belongs  to  the  King  of  France.  I saw  a prodigious  concourse  of  people, 
and  supposed  they  kept  a fair,  but  was  agreeably  surprised  to  find  three 
missionaries  in  the  midst  of  them,  who  went  about  as  itinerant  preachers 
to  help  the  regular  clergy.  They  had  been  there  some  days,  and  were 
three  brothers,  and  preached  morning  and  evening.  The  evening  service 
opened  with  what  they  called  a conference.  One  of  the  missionaries 


Letters,  1791,  p.  45. 
Ibid,  p.  45. 


Age  49-]  Fletcher  Preaching  at  an  Execution. 


425 


took  the  pulpit,  and  the  parish  priest  proposed  questions  to  him,  which 
he  answered  at  full  length  and  in  a very  edifying  manner.  The  subject 
was  the  unlawfulness  and  the  mischief  of  those  methods  by  which  persons 
of  different  sexes  lay  snares  for  each  other,  and  corrupt  each  other’s 
morals.  The  subject  was  treated  with  delicacy,  propriety,  and  truth. 
The  method  was  admirably  well  calculated  to  draw  and  fix  the  attention 
of  a mixed  multitude.  This  con/erence  being  ended,  another  missionary 
took  the  pulpit.  His  text  was  our  Lord’s  description  of  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. Before  the  sermon,  all  those  who,  for  the  press,  could  kneel, 
did,  and  sang  a French  hymn  to  beg  a blessing  on  the  word ; and  indeed 
it  was  blessed.  An  awful  attention  was  visible  upon  most,  and,  during 
a good  part  of  the  discourse,  the  voice  of  the  preacher  was  almost  lost 
in  the  cries  and  bitter  wailings  of  the  audience.  When  the  outcry 
began,  the  preacher  was  describing  the  departure  of  the  wicked  into 
eternal  fire.  They  urged  that  God  was  merciful,  and  that  Jesus  Christ 
had  shed  His  blood  for  them.  ‘ But  that  mercy  you  have  slighted,  and 
now  is  the  time  of  justice.  That  blood  you  have  trodden  under  foot, 
and  now  it  cries  for  vengeance.  Know  your  day.  Slight  the  Father’s 
mercy  and  the  Son’s  blood  no  longer.’  I have  seen  but  once  or  twice 
congregations  as  much  affected  in  England. 

“One  of  our  ministers  being  ill,  I ventured,  a second  time,  into  the 
pulpit  last  Sunday ; and,  the  Sunday  before,  I preached,  six  miles  off, 
to  two  thousand  people  in  the  yard  of  a jail,  where  they  were  come  to 
see  a murderer  before  his  execution.  I was  a little  abused  by  the  bailiff 
on  the  occasion,  and  was  refused  the  liberty  of  attending  the  poor  man 
to  the  scaffold,  where  he  was  to  be  broken  on  the  wheel.  I hope  he 
died  penitent.  The  day  before  he  suffered,  he  said  he  had  broken  his 
irons,  and  that,  as  he  deserved  to  die,  he  desired  new  ones  to  be  put 
on,  lest  he  should  be  tempted  to  make  his  escape. 

“You  ask,  what  I design  to  do  ? I propose,  if  it  be  the  Lord’s  will, 
to  spend  the  winter  here.  In  the  spring,  I shall,  if  nothing  prevents, 
return  to  England  with  you,  or  with  Mr.  Perronet,  if  his  affairs  are 
settled,  or  alone,  if  other  ways  fail.  In  the  meanwhile,  I rejoice  with 
you  in  Jesus,  and  in  the  glorious  hope  of  that  complete  salvation  His 
faithfulness  has  promised,  and  His  power  can  never  be  at  a loss  to 
bestow.  We  must  be  saved  by  faith  and  hope  till  we  are  saved  by 
perfect  love,  and  made  partakers  of  heavenly  glory.  I am  truly  a 
stranger  here.  As  strangers  let  us  go  where  we  shall  meet  the  assembly 
of  the  righteous  gathered  in  Jesus.”  ^ 

Mr.  William  Perronet  arrived  at  Nyon  in  the  month  of 
December,  and,  in  letters  to  his  father,  related  : — 

“ However  engaged  Mr.  Fletcher  is  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  he  is 
generally  so  kind  as  to  spend  a little  time  with  me  in  the  evening  in 
prayer  and  conversation.  His  chief  delight  seems  to  be  in  meeting  his 


Letters,  1791,  p.  268. 


426 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1779- 


little  society  of  children.  He  is  exceedingly  fond  of  them,  and  they 
appear  to  be  as  fond  of  him.  He  seldom  walks  abroad  or  rides  out, 
but  some  of  them  follow  him,  singing  the  hymns  they  have  learned,  and 
conversing  with  him  by  the  way.  But  you  must  not  suppose  that  he  is 
permitted  to  enjoy  this  happiness  unmolested.  Not  only  do  the  drunkards 
make  songs  on  him  and  his  little  companions,  but  many  of  the  clergy 
loudly  complain  of  such  irregular  proceedings.  However,  he  is  upon 
good  terms  with  three  ministers  of  the  place ; all  of  whom  are  serious 
men,  and  desirous  of  promoting  true  religion. 

He  is  better,  I think,  than  when  he  left  England  ; but  he  frequently 
puts  his  strength  to  too  severe  a trial,  by  meeting  his  Society  of  children, 
and  some  grown  persons  ; and  other  exercises  of  a like  nature.  When 
he  ventures  to  preach,  his  spitting  of  blood  returns  ; and  whenever  this 
happens,  his  strength  and  spirits  decay  surprisingly.”^ 

Fletcher  and  his  brother  translated  all  the  papers  of 
William  Perronet  into  French,  and,  in  other  ways,  assisted 
him,  in  reference  to  the  estate  which  he  had  gone  to  Swit- 
zerland to  obtain.  Notwithstanding  the  delicate  state  of 
Fletcher’s  health,  the  three  set  out,  in  the  wintry  weather  of 
that  December  month,  to  visit  Chateau  d’  Oex,  where  the 
property  was  situated.  The  distance  from  Nyon  was  fifty- 
seven  miles.  When  they  had  made  about  a quarter  of  the 
journey,  “ the  horses  were  tired  out,  the  coachman  refused 
to  proceed  further,”  and  they  were  obliged  to  return  home 
again.^  A few  days  later,  they  made  another  attempt,  and 
arrived  at  their  destination  on  January  lo,  1779.  Five  days 
afterwards,  they  were  again  at  Nyon. 

In  Fletcher  s state  of  health,  such  a journey  was  perilous  ; 
but  his  love  to  the  Perronet  family  was  such  that,  to  him, 
no  labour  and  risk,  on  their  behalf,  were  too  great.  In 
letters  to  his  venerable  father,  at  Shoreham,  William  Perronet 
states,  that  none  of  them  having  been  to  Chateau  d’Oex 
before,  they  were  obliged  to  employ  a guide,  and  that  “ on 
account  of  the  badness  of  the  ways,”  they  had  ''  to  go  some 
leagues  about,”  which  made  their  journey  about  eighty  miles. 
Their  coach  had  to  pass  “ over  mountains  of  snow  and  rocks 
of  ice.”  When  nine  miles  from  Chateau  d’Oex,  they  were 
obliged  to  exchange  their  coach  for  an  open  sledge  ;”  and 
now  they  ‘‘  travelled  through  narrow  passes,  cut  through  the 


^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher  ” 
2 Ibid. 


Age  49.] 


Perilous  yourney. 


427 


snow,  which,  on  both  sides,  was  many  feet  above  their  heads; 
on  the  sides  of  mountains,  whose  summits  the  eye  could 
scarcely  reach  ; and  frequently  on  the  brink  of  precipices,  at 
the  bottoms  of  which  they  could  hear  the  waters  roar  like 
thunder/'  In  one  place,  Fletcher  and  William  Perronet, 
being  obliged  to  walk,  their  feet  slipped  : Fletcher  ''  received 
a violent  blow  on  the  back  part  of  the  head  and  William 
Perronet  '^sprained"  his  “wrist."  In  crossing  the  Alps,  they 
had  to  lie  “ two  nights  in  beds  that  were  not  only  damp, 
but  musty  and  without  curtains  and,  “ being  in  a Popish 
canton,  and  Friday  and  Saturday  being  meagre  days,"  they 
“ were  almost  starved  with  hunger  as  well  as  cold."  “ The 
weather  was  extremely  severe,  and  it  was  scarce  in  the  power 
of  clothes,  or  even  of  fire,  to  keep"  them  “warm."  William 
Perronet  concludes  his  narrative  of  their  adventures  as 
follows  : — 

“Whether  I succeed  in  my  temporal  business  or  not,  I shall  ever 
remember,  with  pleasure  and  thankfulness,  the  opportunities  I have 
been  blessed  with  in  spending  so  much  time  in  company  with  our 
inestimable  friend ; who,  wherever  he  goes,  preaches  the  Gospel,  both 
by  his  words  and  example  ; nay,  by  his  very  looks,  not  only  to  his 
friends,  but  to  all  whom  he  meets  : so  that,  on  the  top  of  the  frozen 
Alps,  and  in  the  dreary  vale  of  Chateau  d’Oex,  good  seed  has  been 
sown.  At  Chateau  d’Oex,  he  was  visited  by  some  of  the  principal 
inhabitants,  who  stood  around  him,  in  deep  attention,  for  almost  an 
hour,  while  he  exhorted  and  prayed.”^ 

In  a postscript  to  this  letter,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

“ I have  had  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  your  son  to  your  father’s 
birthplace.  It  is  a charming  country  for  those  who  have  a taste  for 
highland  prospects  ; but  what  is  it  to  our  heavenly  Father’s  Hill  of 
Sion  ? Thither  may  we  all  travel,  summer  and  winter,  and  there  may 
we  all  have  a happy  meeting,  and  find  an  eternal  inheritance  ! ” 

Three  weeks  later,  Fletcher  wrote  the  following  to  Mr. 
Ireland  : — 

“ Nyon,  February  2,  1779. 

“ My  Dear  Friend, — I am  sorry  to  hear  that  you  are  still  tried  by 
illness  ; but  our  good,  heavenly  Father  is  wise  ; His  will  be  done  ; His 
name  be  praised  ! 

“ I am  better,  thank  God ! and  ride  out  every  day,  when  the  slippery 


Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


428 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1779- 


roads  will  permit  me  to  venture  without  the  risk  of  breaking  my  horse’s 
legs  and  my  own  neck.  You  will  ask  me  how  I spend  my  time  ? I 
pray,  have  patience,  rejoice,  and  write,  when  I can  ; I saw  wood  in  the 
house  when  I cannot  go  out ; and  eat  grapes,  of  which  I have  always 
a basket  by  me. 

‘‘Our  little  Lord-Lieutenant  has  forbidden  the  ministers  to  let  me  exhort 
in  the  parsonage,  because  it  is  the  sovereign' s house.  My  second 
brother  has  addressed  a memorial  to  him,  in  which  he  informs  him  that 
he  will  give  up  neither  his  religious  nor  civil  liberty,  and  will  open  his 
house  for  the  Word  of  God.  According,  we  have  since  met  at  his  house. 

“ On  Sunday,  we  met  at  the  young  clergyman’s  who  writes  against 
the  conduct  of  the  clergy ; but  I fear  we  fence  against  a wall  of  brass. 
However,  I am  quite  persuaded  that  Providence  calls  me  to  leave  a 
testimony  to  my  French  brethren,  and  it  may  be  of  some  use  when  I 
shall  be  no  more.  I have  been  comforted  by  the  apology  of  a minister 
at  Yverdon,  who  was  persecuted  at  the  beginning  of  this  century  under 
the  name  of  Pietist ; and  I have  become  acquainted  with  a faithful 
minister  of  Geneva,  but  he  dares  no  more  offer  me  his  pulpit  than  my 
brother-in-law  at  Lausanne. 

“ Several  young  women  seem  to  have  received  the  Word  in  the  love 
of  it,  and  four  or  five  grown-up  ones  ; but  not  one  man,  except  the  young 
hopeful  clergyman  I mention,  who  helps  me  at  my  little  meetings,  and 
begins  to  preach  extempore.  The  truths  I chiefly  insist  upon,  when  I 
talk  to  the  people  who  will  hear  me,  are  those  which  I feed  upon  myself 
as  my  daily  bread.  ‘ God,  our  Maker  and  Preserver,  though  invisible^ 
is  here  and  everywhere.  He  is  our  chief  good,  because  all  beauty  and 
all  goodness  centre  in  and  flow  from  Him.  He  is  especially  love; 
and  love  in  us,  being  His  image,  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  all  moral 
and  spiritual  excellence — of  all  true  and  lasting  bliss.  In  Adam  we  are 
all  estranged  from  love  and  from  God;  but  the  Second  Adam — Jesus, 
Emanuel,  God  with  us, — is  come  to  make  us  know  and  enjoy  again  our 
God  as  the  God  of  love  and  the  chief  good.  All  who  receive  Jesus 
receive  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,’  etc.,  etc. 

“ I hope  I shall  be  able  to  set  out  for  England  with  Mr.  Perronet,  in 
April  or  May.  O that  I may  find  that  dear  island  in  peace  within  and 
without ! 1 Well,  I hope  you  make  peace  in  the  Church  if  you  cannot 
make  peace  with  the  patriots. 

“The  coats  and  shoes  you  gave  me  have  lasted  all  this  while  ^ and 
are  yet  good  ; so  that  I need  not  draw  upon  your  banker.  Thank  God, 
and  you,  for  a thousand  favours  ! God  bless  and  comfort  you,  my  dear 
friend  ! We  are  poor  creatures,  but  we  have  a good  God  to  cast  all  our 
burdens  upon,  and  who  often  burdens  us  that  we  may  have  constant  and 
free  recourse  to  His  bounty,  power,  and  faithfulness.  Stand  fast  in  the 
faith.  Believe  lovingly^  and  all  will  be  well.” 


^ The  war  with  the  American  Colonists  was  now  raging,  and  England 
was  greatly  excited. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  271. 


Age  49.]  Letter  to  the  Madeley  Methodists. 


429 


To  his  friend  and  Methodist  helper  among  the  Madeley 
Societies,  William  Wase,  Fletcher  wrote  as  follows  : — 

''Nyon,  February  ii,  1779. 

My  Dear  Friend, — I have  just  received  yours  of  January  24,  and 
rejoice  to  hear  of  the  welfare  of  your  friends,  whom  I long  much  to  see  ; 
but  there  is  no  blessing  here  without  some  alloy  of  grief,  and  such  was 
to  me  the  account  of  the  poor  state  of  health  of  dear  Mrs.  Wase.  Tell 
her  I should  be  glad  to  hold  up  her  hands  in  her  fight  of  affliction  ; but, 
if  the  poor,  unprofitable,  weak  servant  is  afar  off,  the  Master,  who  is 
rich  in  mercy,  who  fills  the  whole  world  with  His  goodness  and  patience, 
is  near  to  her  and  to  all  His  afflicted  ones.  I recommend  to  her  two 
remedies.  One  is  a cheerful  resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  whereby  her 
animal  spirits  will  be  greatly  raised  or  sweetly  refreshed.  The  other  is, 
four  lumps  of  heavenly  sugar,  to  be  taken  every  half  hour,  day  and  night, 
when  she  does  not  sleep.  I make  a constant  use  of  them,  to  my  great 
comfort.  They  have  quickened  my  soul  when  I was  dying,  and  I doubt 
not  they  will  have  the  same  effect  upon  hers.  They  are:  ‘ God  so  loved 
the  world,’  etc.  Mf  any  man  sin,’  etc.  Mt  is  a faithful  saying,’  etc. 
‘ Come  unto  Me,  all  ye  that. are  weary,’  etc. 

‘‘Tell  my  little  god- daughter,  Patty  Cartwright,  she  is  big  enough 
and  bad  enough  to  take  these  heavenly  pills.  Tell  her  mother  to  take 
them  regularly  with  her.  What  a shame  it  is  to  have  such  a remedy 
and  not  to  make  more  use  of  it ! 

“ Remember  me  in  much  love  to  dear  Mr.  Hatton.  Thank  brother 
Costerdine  and  his  fellow-labourer  ^ for  their  occasional  help.  May  the 
Lord  vouchsafe  to  consecrate  our  little  Zoar  ^ by  calling  one  sinner  and 
establishing  another  saint ! How  abundantly  shall  we  be  repaid  for  our 
little  expense  and  trouble  ! Thank  the  brethren  you  have  mentioned  ; 
salute  them  kindly  from  me,  not  forgetting  John  Tranter  and  our  friends 
at  the  Fore  Bank — Thomas  Pool  and  Thomas  Banks,  and  our  friends 
at  Dawley  Green.  You  may  see  in  the  enclosed  that  I am  not  without 
hopes  of  telling  you  in  May  how  much  I am  yours, 

“ J.  Fletcher.”  ® 

‘‘  The  enclosed  ” communication  bore  the  same  date  as 
this  letter  to  William  Wase,  of  Broseley,  and  was  addressed 
‘‘To  the  Brethren  in  and  about  Madeley;”  i.e.^  the  Metho- 
dists : — 

“ My  Dear  Companions  in  Tribulation,— Peace  and  mercy, 
faith,  hope,  and  love  be  multiplied  to  you  all  from  the  Father  of  mercies 


1 James  Barry  and  Robert  Costerdine,  the  two  Methodist  itinerant 
preachers  stationed  in  the  Chester  circuit,  of  which  Madeley  and  its 
neighbourhood  were  a part. 

2 The  meeting-house  Fletcher  had  recently  erected  in  Madeley  Wood, 
and  which  is  now  a part  of  the  Wesleyan  Chapel  there. 

3 Letters,  1791,  p.  47,  and  the  Christian  Miscellany y 1877,  P*  333- 


430 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1779- 


through  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  the  Spirit  of  grace  ! I thank  you  for 
your  kind  remembrance  of  me  in  your  prayers.  I am  yet  spared  to  pray 
for  you.  O that  I had  more  power  with  God ! I would  bring  down 
heaven  into  all  your  hearts.  Strive  together  in  love  for  the  living  faith, 
the  glorious  hope,  the  sanctifying  love  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 
Look  to  Jesus.  Move  on  ; run  yourselves  in  the  heavenly  race,  and  let 
each  sweetly  draw  his  brother  along,  till  the  whole  company  appears 
before  the  redeeming  God  in  Sion. 

I hope  God  will,  in  His  mercy,  spare  me  to  see  you  in  the  flesh  ; and 
if  I cannot  labour  for  you,  I shall  gladly  suffer  with  you.  If  you  will 
put  health  into  my  flesh,  joy  into  my  heart,  and  life  into  my  whole  frame, 
be  of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul.  Count  nothing  your  own  but  your 
si7t  and  shame ; and  bury  that  dreadful  property  in  the  grave  of  our 
Saviour.  Let  all  you  are  and  have  be  His  who  bought  you.  Dig  hard 
in  the  Gospel  mines  for  hidden  treasure.  Blow  hard  the  furnace  of 
prayer  with  the  bellows  of  faith  until  you  are  melted  into  love,  and  the 
dross  of  sin  is  purged  out  of  every  heart.  Get  together  into  Jesus,  the 
heavenly  ark,  and  sweetly  sail  into  the  ocean  of  eternity  ; so  shall  you 
be  true  miners,  furnacemen,  and  bargemen.  Farewell,  in  Jesus  ! Tell 
Mrs.  Cound  I shall  greatly  rejoice  if  she  remembers  Lot’s  wife.”  ^ 

Six  weeks  after  the  date  of  this  letter  to  the  Madeley 
Methodists,  Wesley  visited  them,  and  wrote  : — 

1779.  March  25,  Thursday.  I preached  in  the  new  house  which 
Mr.  Fletcher  has  built  in  Madeley  Wood.  The  people  here  exactly 
resemble  those  at  Kingswood,  only  they  are  more  simple  and  teachable. 
But,  for  want  of  discipline,  the  immense  pains  which  he  has  taken  with 
them  has  not  done  them  the  good  which  might  have  been  expected. 
I preached  at  Shrewsbury  in  the  evening,  and  next  day,  about  noon,  in 
the  assembly-room  at  Broseley.  It  was  well  we  were  in  the  shade,  for 
the  sun  shone  as  hot  as  it  usually  does  at  midsummer.  We  walked 
from  thence  to  Coalbrook  Dale,  and  took  a view  of  the  bridge  which  is 
shortly  to  be  thrown  over  the  Severn.  It  is  one  arch,  a hundred  feet 
long,  fifty-two  high,  and  eighteen  wide ; all  of  cast-iron,  weighing  many 
hundred  tons.  I doubt  whether  the  Colossus  at  Rhodes  weighed  much 
more.”  ^ 

Fletcher’s  health  was  still  feeble,  but  he  longed  to  be  back 
to  his  parishioners  and  to  the  Methodists  surrounding  Made- 
ley.  Hence  the  following  to  the  Vicar  of  Shoreham  : — 

1779,  March  29.  I am  still  weak  in  body,  but  able  to  ride  out  and 
exhort  some  children.  Well,  the  time  shall  come  when,  in  a better 
state,  we  shall  be  able  to  glorify  our  heavenly  Father.  In  the  mean- 


Letters,  p.  48,  and  ibid,  p.  334. 
Wesley’s  Journal. 


Age  49.] 


Letters  to  Maddey. 


431 


time,  let  us  do  it  either  in  the  stocks  of  weakness  or  in  the  fires  of  tribu- 
lation ; and  on  our  death-bed  may  we  sing,  with  hearts  overflowing  with 
humble  love,  ‘ The  Resurrection  and  the  Life,  the  Friend  and  Saviour 
of  sinners,  loved  me  and  gave  Himself  for  me  ; and  I am  going  to  see 
Him  and  to  thank  Him,  face  to  face,  for  His  matchless  love  ! ^ 

I hope  the  prospect  respecting  the  inheritance  of  your  fathers  in 
this  country  clears  up  a little,  and  I trust  the  matter  will  be  decided 
without  a lawsuit.  As  soon  as  the  affair  is  brought  to  some  conclusion, 
we  design  to  set  out  for  England.  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done  in  all 
things  ! ” ' 

This  was  written  in  the  week  before  Easter.  The  Puri- 
tanical Calvinists  of  Switzerland  of  course  denounced  the 
observance  of  holy  days,  and  hence,  at  Nyon,  there  was  no 
service  on  Good  Friday,  April  2 ; but  Fletcher  and  William 
Perronet,  who  all  their  life  had  been  accustomed  to  com- 
memorate the  death  of  the  incarnate  Son  of  God,  crossed 
the  lake  into  Savoy,  to  hear  a celebrated  Capuchin. 

He  made,”  says  Mr.  Perronet,  a very  good  discourse,  and  he  and 
his  brethren  invited  us  to  dine  with  them.  This  we  declined;  but,  after 
dinner,  we  paid  our  respects  to  them,  when  Mr.  Fletcher  spent  two  or 
three  hours  with  them  in  serious  and  friendly  conversation.” 

Fletcher  had  expressed  a hope  that  he  would  be  able  to 
return  to  his  flock  at  Madeley  in  April  or  May,  but  his  hope 
was  not  realized.  The  reasons  for  this  will  be  found  in  the 
following  extracts  from  his  letters.  To  his  curate,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Greaves,  he  said  : — 

'‘Nyon,  May  18,  1779.  My  dear  fellow-labourer, — My  departure 
being  delayed  some  weeks  gives  me  much  concern,  although,  from  the 
confidence  I have  in  your  pastoral  diligence,  I am  easy  about  the  flock 
you  feed.  Last  week,  a Visitation  was  held  here,  and  the  clergy  of  the 
town  took  my  part  against  the  Visitor  and  others,  who  said  I was  of  a 
sect  everywhere  spoken  against.  The  conversation  about  it  held  so 
long,  and  w^as  so  trying  to  my  grain  of  humility,  that  I went  out.  The 
matter,  how^ever,  ended  peaceably  by  a vote  that  they  should  invite  me 
to  dinner.  God  ever  save  us  from  jealous  and  persecuting  zeal. 

"I  hope,  my  dear  friend,  you  go  on  comfortably,  doing  more  and 
more  the  w'ork  of  an  evangelist.  Remember  my  love  to  as  many  of  my 
parishioners  as  you  meet  with,  and  especially  to  all  our  good  neighbours 
and  to  the  Society.”  ^ 


Benson’s  " Life  of  Fletcher.” 
Idl'd. 

Letters,  1791,  p.  49. 


432 


Wesley*  s Desig7iated  Successor. 


[1779- 


On  the  same  day,  he  wrote  to  Michael  Onions  as  follows: — 

''  I have  complied  with  the  request  of  my  friends  to  stay  a little  longer 
among  them,  as  it  was  backed  by  a small  Society  of  pious  people 
gathered  here.  Three  weeks  ago,  they  got  about  me,  and  on  their 
knees,  with  many  tears,  besought  me  to  stay  till  they  were  a little 
stronger  and  able  to  stand  alone  ; nor  would  they  rise  till  they  had  got 
me  to  comply.  However,  yesterday,  I spoke  with  a carrier,  from  Geneva, 
to  take  me  to  London,  who  said  he  would  take  us  at  a fortnight’s 
notice. 

My  love  to  your  fellow-leaders,  and,  by  them,  to  the  companies  you 
meet  in  prayer;  also  to  the  preachers  who  help  in  the  Round*.” ^ 

On  May  22,  William  Perronet,  in  a letter  to  his  father, 
observed  : — 

'‘  On  the  9th  of  this  month,  Mr.  Fletcher  preached  in  the  church,  on 
2 Cor.  V.  20 — ‘We  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,’  etc.  He  spoke  with 
a strong  and  clear  voice  for  more  than  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  did 
not  find  himself  hurt  by  it.  He  has  preached  four  times  in  the  church 
since  I have  been  here,  and  might  have  preached  much  oftener  if  his 
health  would  have  allowed  him  ; for,  by  his  friendly  and  prudent  conduct 
towards  the  three  ministers  of  the  place,  he  is  upon  good  terms  with 
them  now,  although,  at  his  first  coming  hither,  they  were  afraid  to  own 
him,  on  account  of  his  irregiclar  conduct ; for  such  they  deemed  his 
exhorting  the  children,  and  holding  meetings  in  private  houses.”^ 

On  the  same  day,  Fletcher  remarked  to  the  same  vener- 
able minister  : — 

“My  Very  Dear  Brother,  and  Honoured  Father, — I rejoice 
that  you  are  yet  preserved  to  be  a witness  of  the  grace  and  saving 
health  of  Jesus.  Let  us  rejoice  that  when  our  strength  shall  decay. 
His  will  remain  entire  for  ever,  and,  in  His  strength,  we,  who  take  Him 
for  our  life,  shall  be  strong.  Our  Redeemer  liveth  ; and,  when  sickness 
and  death  shall  have  brought  down  our  flesh  to  the  earth,  w^e  shall,  by 
His  resurrection’s  power,  rise  and  live  for  ever  with  Him  in  heavenly 
places ; for  the  new  earth  will  be  a heaven,  or  a glorious  province  in 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  The  meek  shall  inherit  it;  and  that  inherit- 
ance will  be  fairer  than  yours  at  Chateau  d’Oex,  and  surer  too. 

“ I hope  to  accompany  your  son  soon  to  England. 

The  following,  also,  was  written  at  the  same  time,  and 
was  addressed  to  his  honoured  host  and  friend,  Mr.  Charles 
Greenwood,  of  Stoke  Newington  : — 


* The  name  often  given  by  the  old  Methodists  to  a Methodist  Circuit. 
2 Letters,  1791,  p.  51. 

^ Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Ibid. 


Age  49*]  Letter  to  Mr,  Charles  Greenwood. 


433 


''Nyon,  May  22,  1779. 

My  Dear  Friend, — ''I  am  yet  alive,  able  to  ride  out,  and  now 
and  then  to  instruct  a few  children.  I hope  Mr.  Perronet  will  soon  have 
settled  his  affairs,  and  then,  please  God,  I shall  inform  you,  by  word  of 
mouth,  how  much  I am  indebted  to  you,  Mrs.  Greenwood  and  Mrs. 
Thornton.  Thank  and  salute,  on  my  behalf,  Mr.  John  and  Mr.  Charles 
Wesley,  Dr.  Coke,  and  Mr.  Atla}^^  Thanks  be  to  God  for  His  un- 
speakable gifts, — His  Son,  His  Spirit,  and  His  Word  ! And  thanks  be 
to  His  people,  for  their  kindness  towards  the  poor,  the  sick,  the  stranger, 
and  especially  towards  me  ! But,  at  this  time,  a sleepless  night  and  a 
constant  toothache  unfit  me  for  almost  everything  but  lying  down 
under  the  cross,  kissing  the  rod,  and  rejoicing  in  hope  of  a better  state, 
in  this  world  or  in  the  next.  Perhaps  weakness  and  pain  are  the  best 
for  me  in  this  world.  Well,  the  Lord  will  choose  for  me,  and  I fully  set 
my  heart  and  seal  to  His  choice.  Let  us  not  faint  in  the  day  of  adver- 
sity. The  Lord  tries  us,  that  our  faith  may  be  purged  of  all  the 
dross  of  self-will,  and  may  work  by  that  love,  which  beareth  all  things, 
and  thinketh  evil  of  nothing.  Our  calling  is  to  follow  the  crucified,  and 
we  must  be  crucified  with  Him,  until  body  and  soul  know  the  power  of 
His  resurrection,  and  pain  and  death  are  done  away. 

I hope  my  dear  friend  will  make,  with  me,  a constant  choice  of  the 
following  mottoes  of  St.  Paul, — Christ  is  gain  in  life  and  death — Our 
life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God — If  we  sujfer  with  Him,  we  shall  also 
reign  with  Him — We  glory  in  tribiclation — God  will  give  us  rest 
with  Christ  in  that  day — We  are  saved  by  hojbe.  To  the  Lord  our 
God,  Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier,  let  us  give  glory  in  the  fires. 
Amen.’^  ^ 

Besides  his  own  physical  weakness  and  suffering,  Fletcher 
had  other  trials  in  Switzerland.  In  a letter,  written  about 
the  same  time  as  the  foregoing,  he  remarked  : — 

Let  us  bear  with  patience  the  decays  of  nature  ; let  us  see,  without 
fear,  the  approach  of  death.  We  must  put  off  this  sickly,  corruptible 
body,  in  order  to  put  on  the  immortal  and  glorious  one.  I have  some 
hopes  that  my  poor  sister  will  yet  be  my  sister  in  Christ.  Her  self- 
righteousness,  I hope,  breaks  as  fast  as  her  body.  I am  come  hither 
to  see  death  make  havoc  among  my  friends.  I wear  mourning  for  my 
father’s  brother,  and  for  my  brother’s  son.  The  same  mourning  will 
serve  for  my  dying  sister,  if  I do  not  go  before  her.  She  lies  on  the 
same  bed  where  my  father  and  mother  died,  and  where  she  and  I were 
born.  How  near  is  life  to  death  ! But,  blessed  be  God,  Christ,  the 
Resurrection,  is  nearer  to  the  weak,  dying  believer  ! ” ^ 


* Wesley’s  Book  Steward,  who,  nine  years  afterwards,  seceded  from 
the  Methodists,  and  took  possession  of  a chapel  which  they  had  built  at 
Dewsbury. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  272. 

® Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


28 


434 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1779- 


Fletcher,  notwithstanding  his  longing  to  get  back  to  his 
flock  at  Madeley,  was  still  detained  in  Switzerland.  Hence 
the  following,  addressed  to  Mr.  Thomas  York  : — 

''Nyon,  July  i8,  1779. 

Dear  Sir, — Providence  is  still  gracious  to  me,  and  raises  me 
friends  on  all  sides.  May  God  reward  them  all,  and  may  you  have  a 
double  reward  for  all  your  kindness  ! I hope  I am  getting  a little 
strength.  The  Lord  has  blessed  to  me  a species  of  black  cherry,  which 
I have  eaten  in  large  quantities.  I have  had  a return  of  my  spitting 
blood ; but,  for  a fortnight  past,  I have  catechized  the  children  of  the 
town  every  day ; and  I do  not  find  much  inconvenience  from  that  exer- 
cise. Some  of  them  seem  to  be  under  sweet  drawings  of  the  Father, 
and  a few  of  their  mothers  begin  to  come,  and  desire  me  with  tears  in 
their  eyes  to  stay  in  this  country.  They  urge  much  my  being  born  here, 
and  I reply,  that  I was  born  again  in  England;  that  is,  of  course^  the 
country  which,  to  me,  is  the  dearer  of  the  two. 

‘‘  My  friends  have  prevailed  on  me  to  publish  ^ A Poem  on  the  Praises 
of  God,’  which  I wrote  many  years  ago.  The  revising  it  for  the  press 
is  at  once  a business  and  a pleasure,  which  I go  through  on  horseback. 
Help  me,  by  your  prayers,  to  ask  a blessing  on  this  little  attempt. 

I wish  I could  procure  you  an  estate  in  this  fine  country,  as  I hope 
to  do  Mr.  Perronet,  one  of  the  physicians  who  showed  me  so  much  love 
when  I lay  sick  at  Newington.  His  grandfather  was  a Swiss,  who  was 
naturalized  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.  By  calling  upon  some  of  his 
relations,  I have  found  that  he  is  entitled  to  an  estate  of  some  ;^iooo,  of 
which  he  is  come  to  take  possession.  So  Providence  prepares  for  me  a 
friend,  a kind  physician,  and  a fellow-traveller,  to  accompany  me  back 
to  England ; where  one  of  my  chief  pleasures  will  be  to  embrace  you, 
and  to  assure  you,  how  much  I am,  my  dear  friend,  your  obliged 
ser\^ant, 

‘‘J.  Fletcher.”^ 

Alas ! little  did  Fletcher  think  that  William  Perronet 
would  not  return  to  England. 

Providence,”  said  Fletcher,  in  the  letter  just  quoted^. 
“ raises  me  friends  on  all  sides.”  He  soon  had  need  of 
them.  In  the  month  of  September,  William  Perronet 
wrote  : — 

Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  wont  to  preach,  now  and  then,  in  the  church; 
here  (Nyon),  at  the  request  of  one  or  other  of  the  ministers  ; but,  some 
time  ago,  he  was  summoned  before  the  Seigneur  Bailiff,  who  sharply 
reprehended  him  for  preaching  against  Sabbath-breaking  and  stage 
plays.  The  former,  he  said,  implied  a censure  on  the  magistrates  in 


Letters,  1791,  p.  53- 


Age  50.] 


Fletcher  has  Rheumatism. 


435 


general,  as  if  they  neglected  their  duty.  And  the  latter  he  considered 
as  a personal  reflection  on  himself,  he  having  just  then  sent  for  a com- 
pany of  French  Comedians  to  come  to  Nyon.  Accordingly,  he  forbade 
Mr.  Fletcher  to  exercise,  any  more,  any  of  the  functions  of  a minister  in 
this  country.  However,  one  of  the  Ministers  here  has  given  him  a room 
in  his  own  house  to  preach  in ; and  here  Mr.  Fletcher  meets  a few  serious 
persons,  particularly  a number  of  children,  two  or  three  times  a week. 
Hitherto,  his  lordship  has  not  interfered  with  respect  to  this  mode  of 
exhortation ; and  both  the  number  and  the  seriousness  of  the  congre- 
gation increase  daily.”  ^ 

Referring  to  the  same  incident,  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

Our  Lord  Lieutenant,  being  stirred  up  by  some  of  the  clergy,  and 
believing  firmly  that  I am  banished  from  England,  took  the  alarm,  and 
forbade  the  ministers  to  let  me  exhort  in  their  houses ; threatening 
them  with  the  power  of  the  Senate  if  they  did.  They  all  yielded,  but 
are  now  ashamed  of  it.  A young  clergyman,  a true  Timothy,  has  opened 
me  his  house,  where  I exhort  twice  a week ; and  the  other  clergymen, 
encouraged  by  his  boldness,  come  to  our  meetings.” 

William  Perronet  completes  this  story  by  relating  that 
the  minister,  who  began  this  discreditable  opposition,  died 
suddenly,  as  he  was  dressing  to  go  to  church ; and  that 
his  successor  continued  the  same  intolerant  behaviour  to- 
wards poor,  well-meaning  Fletcher.  Mr.  Perronet  adds  : — 

Mr.  Fletcher  now  thinks  himself  obliged,  before  he  leaves  his  native 
country,  to  bear  a public  testimony  to  the  truth.  When  his  writing  will 
be  finished,  I cannot  say,  for  it  multiplies  under  his  fertile  pen  ; so  that, 
I fear,  we  shall  be  obliged  to  spend  another  winter  in  this  severe 
climate.”^ 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  ‘‘public  testimony,” 
which  Fletcher  was  now  composing  was  his  “ Portrait  of 
St.  Paul,”  to  be  noticed  anon. 

Soon  after  this,  Fletcher  had  an  attack  of  rheumatism, 
and  wrote  as  follows  to  William  Perronet,  who  had  gone  to 
Lausanne.  After  relating  that  the  pain  in  his  left  shoulder 
had  deprived  him  of  sleep,  and  almost  crippled  him,  he 
added  : — 

I have  partly  recovered  the  use  of  my  shoulder;  but  it  is  still  very 
weak.  I drink  a decoction  of  pine-apple,  which  is  as  warm  as  guaia- 
cum.  My  writing  does  not  go  on  ; but  the  will  of  the  Lord  is  done,  and 


^ Benson’s  ^‘Life  of  Fletcher.” 

Ibid, 


436 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1779- 


that  is  enough.  I would  press  you  to  come  back  soon,  if  I were  not 
persuaded  you  are  better  where  you  are.  I have  been  afraid  that  our 
bad  meat  here  would  make  you  lose  your  flesh  ; and,  for  the  honour  of 
Switzerland,  I should  be  glad  you  had  some  to  carry  back  to  England, 
if  we  live  to  go  and  see  our  friends  there.  I had  last  Sunday  (De- 
cember 19),  a great  trial  in  my  family.  I see  the  Lord  will  not  use  me 
in  this  country  for  good,  and,  when  we  shall  have  finished  our  little 
matters,  I shall  be  glad  to  go  to  my  spiritual  friends,  and  to  my  flock ; 
so  much  the  more,  as  Mr.  Ireland  mentions  my  curate’s  danger  of  being 
in  a consumption.  My  compliments  and  thanks  wait  on  Miss  Perronet. 
She  was  very  obliging  to  share  her  drops  with  me.  May  we  all  share 
the  springs  of  grace  and  glory  together  ! If  you  will  come  a few  leagues 
southward,  and  try  the  weather  here,  your  room  waits  for  you,  and  I shall 
be  glad  to  see  you.  In  the  meantime,  keep  yourself  warm  by  the  Word 
of  God  within,  and  a good  fire  without.  The  Lord  direct  us  in  all 
things  ! Oh  for  quietness  and  English  friends  ! ” ^ 

Two  days  after  writing  this,  Fletcher  addressed  his  curate, 
Mr.  Greaves,  as  follows  : — 

Nyon,  December  25,  1779. 

‘‘  My  Dear  Brother,—  Glory  be  to  God  for  His  unspeakable  gift ! 
May  that  Jesus,  that  eternal,  all-creating,  all- supporting,  all-atoning, 
all-comforting  Word,  which  was  with  God,  and  is  God,  and  came,  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  to  dwell  among  men,  and  to  be  our  Emmanuel, 
God  with  us, — may  He,  by  a lively  faith,  be  formed  in  our  hearts  ; and, 
by  a warm  love,  lie  and  grow  in  the  manger  of  our  emptiness,  filling  it 
always  with  the  bread  that  comes  down  from  heaven  ! 

Though  absent  in  body,  I am  with  you  and  the  flock  in  spirit.  You 
are  now  at  the  Lord’s  table.  O may  all  the  dear  people,  you  have  just 
now  preached  to,  receive  Jesus  in  the  pledge  of  His  dying  love,  and  go 
home  with  this  lively  conviction,  ‘God  has  given  me  eternal  life,  and  this 
life  is  in  His  Son  P 

“ Glory  be  to  God  in  heaven  ! Peace  on  earth  ! Love  and  good-will 
everywhere  ! Especially  in  the  place  where  Providence  has  called  us  to 
cry,  ‘ Behold  / what  manner  of  love  the  Father  has  testified  to  us, 
in  Jesus,  that  we,  children  of  wrath,  should  be  made  children  of 
God,  by  that  only-begotten  Son  of  the  Most  High,  who  was  born  for  our 
regeneration,  crucified  for  our  atonement,  raised  for  our  justification, 
and  who  now  triumphs  in  heaven  for  our  sanctification,  for  our  full 
redemption,  and  for  our  eternal  glorification.  To  Him  be  glory  for  ever 
and  ever ; ’ and  may  all,  who  fear  and  love  Him  about  you,  say,  for 
ever,  Amen  ! Hallelujah  ! 

“ Out  of  the  fulness  of  my  heart,  I invite  them  to  do  so;  but  how 
shallow  is  my  fulness  to  His  ! What  a drop,  compared  to  an  ocean 
without  bottom  or  shore  ! Let  us,  then,  receive  continually  from  Him, 


^ Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher  and  Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine, 

1825,  p.  744. 


Age  50.] 


National  Distress. 


437 


who  is  the  overflowing  and  ever-present  source  of  pardoning,  sanctifying, 
and  exhilarating  grace ; and,  from  the  foot  of  the  Wrekin,  where  you 
are,  to  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  where  I am,  let  us  echo  back  to  each  other 
the  joyful,  thankful  cry  of  the  primitive  Christians,  which  was  the  text 
here  this  morning,  ‘ Out  of  His  fulness,  we  have  all  received  grace 
for  grace.' 

I long  to  hear  from  you  and  the  flock.  How  do  you  go  on  ? Let 
me  know  that  you  cdiSt  joyfully  all  your  burdens  on  the  Lord.  Mr. 
Ireland  sends  me  word,  that  Mr.  Romaine  told  him  you  are  not  very 
well.  Take  care  of  yourself.  Lay  nothing  to  heart.  Should  your  breast 
be  weak,  preach  but  once  on  Sundays  ; for  you  know  the  evening  sermon 
is  not  a part  of  our  staled  duty.  I say  this,  that  you  may  not  over-do, 
and  lie  by,  as  I do.  God  direct,  sustain,  and  comfort  you  in  all  things  ! 

Give  my  pastoral  love  to  all  my  flock.  May  all  see,  and  see  more 
abundantly,  the  salvation  of  God  ! May  national  distress  be  sanctified 
unto  them ; and  may  they  all  be  loyal  subjects  of  the  King  of  kings, 
and  of  His  Anointed,  our  King  ! May  the  approaching  new  year  be  to 
them  a year  of  peace  and  Gospel  grace  ! I hope  Molly  takes  good  care 
of  you.  God  bless  her  ! ” * 

Fletcher  refers  to  the  “national  distress.'’  This  was  great. 
Parliament  was  excited.  Ireland  was  in  a state  of  veiled 
rebellion.  England  rang  with  reports  of  threatened  invasion. 
The  war  with  the  American  colonists  had  already  added 
sixty-three  millions  to  the  national  debt.  Trade  was  para- 
lysed, and  taxes  were  intolerable.  Popery  had  been  esta- 
blished in  Canada,  and  had  received  encouragement  in 
England.  The  Protestant  Association  had  sprung  into 
existence,  and  the  Gordon  riots  were  at  hand.  In  the  midst 
of  this  state  of  things,  Fletcher  wrote  to  a nobleman,  whose 
name  is  not  given,  but  who,  probably,  was  Lord  North,  as 
follows  : — 

‘^Nyon,  December  15,  1779. 

“ My  Lord, — If  the  American  Colonies  and  the  West  India  Islands 
are  rent  from  the  Crown,  there  will  not  grow  one  ear  of  corn  the  less  in 
Great  Britain.  We  shall  still  have  the  necessaries  of  life,  and,  what  is 
more,  the  Gospel,  and  liberty  to  hear  it.  If  the  great  springs  of  trade 
and  wealth  are  cut  off,  good  men  will  bear  that  loss  without  much  sorrow ; 
for  springs  of  wealth  are  always  springs  of  luxury,  which,  sooner  or 
later,  destroy  the  empires  corrupted  by  wealth.  Moral  good  may  come 
out  of  our  losses.  I wish  you  may  see  it  in  England.  People  on  the 
Continent  imagine  they  see  it  already  in  the  English  on  their  travels. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  56. 


438 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1780. 


who  are  said  to  behave  with  more  wisdom  and  less  haughtiness  than 
they  used  to  do.’’ ^ 

Lord  North,  King  George  the  Third’s  Prime  Minister,  was, 
at  this  time,  harassed  by  the  American  rebellion,  incessantly 
assailed  by  the  Opposition,  and  frequently  threatened  with 
impeachment.  Probably,  Fletcher’s  letter,  of  which  the  above 
is  only  a part,  was  intended  to  help  him  in  his  troubles. 
Though  a foreigner  by  birth,  John  de  la  Plechere  was  a most 
loyal  and  devoted  subject  of  King  George.  Hence,  also,  the 
following,  taken  from  a letter  to  his  curate,  Mr.  Greaves  : — 

March  7,  1780.  1 long  to  hear  from  you.  I hope  you  are  well,  and 

grow  in  the  love  of  Christ,  and  of  the  souls  bought  with  His  blood,  and 
committed  to  your  care.  I recommend  to  you  the  most  helpless  of  the 
flock, — I mean  the  children  and  the  sick.  They  most  want  your  help, 
and  they  are  the  most  likely  to  benefit  by  it ; for  affliction  softens  the 
heart,  and  children  are  not  yet  quite  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness 
of  sin. 

'H  beg  you  will  not  fail,  when  you  have  opportunity,  to  recommend 
to  our  flock,  to  honour  the  King,  to  study  to  be  quiet,  and  to  hold  up 
the  hands  of  the  Government  by  which  we  are  protected.”^ 

On  the  same  day,  Fletcher  wrote  to  his  friend  and  helper, 
Mr.  William  Wase,  on  another  matter  which  was  causing 
him  considerable  anxiety.  His  Methodist  meeting-house  in 
Madeley  Wood  had  cost  much  more  than  he  expected.  The 
letter  to  Mr.  Wase  needs  no  further  explanation,  except 
that  the  work,  ready  to  be  printed,  was,  probably,  his  poem, 
in  French,  entitled,  “ La  Louange.” 

Nyon,  March  7,  1780. 

My  Dear  Brother, — I am  sorry  the  building  has  cost  so  much 
more  than  I intended  ; but,  as  the  mischief  is  done,  it  is  a matter  to 
exercise  patience,  resignation,  and  self-denial ; and  it  will  be  a caution 
in  the  future.  I am  going  to  sell  part  of  my  little  estate  here  to  discharge 
the  debt.  I had  laid  by  to  print  a small  work,  which  I wanted  to 
distribute  here ; but,  as  I must  be  just,  before  I presume  to  offer  that 
mite  to  the  God  of  truth,  I abandon  the  design,  and  send  that  sum  to 
Mr.  York. 

“Money  is  so  scarce  here,  at  this  time,  that  I shall  sell  at  a very 
great  loss  ; but  necessity  and  justice  are  two  great  laws,  which  must  be 


Letters,  1791,  p.  273. 
Ibid,  p.  57. 


Age  50.]  Wiilia^n  Perronef  s Unpublished  Letter.  439 


obeyed.  As  I design,  on  my  return  to  England,  to  pinch  until  I have 
got  rid  of  this  debt,  I may  go  and  live  in  one  of  the  cottages  belonging 
to  the  vicar,  if  we  could  let  the  vicarage  for  a few  pounds  ; and,  in  that 
case,  I dare  say  Mr.  Greaves  would  be  so  good  as  to  take  the  other 
little  house. 

My  dear  friend,  let  us  die  to  sin.  Hold  fast  Jesus,  the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life.  Walk  by  faith  in  Him  ; and  not  by  the  sight  and 
passions  of  the  old  Adam.  I hope  the  sun  of  affliction,  which  burns 
poor  England  and  us,  will  ripen  us  all  for  glory.  Give  my  best  love  to 
all  our  friends  in  Christ,  and  tell  them  that  the  hope  of  seeing  them 
does  me  good.” ^ 

Fletcher  was  hard  at  work  ; the  weather  was  cold  ; and, 
for  the  present,  exercise  out  of  doors  was  impracticable. 
The  following,  taken  from  an  unpublished  letter  written  by 
William  Perronet,  contains  an  amusing  scene  : — 

^'Nyon,  March  i,  1780.  As  this  is  Mr.  Fletcher’s  native  village,  no 
wonder  that  it  agrees  with  him  ; otherwise,  it  must  be  very  trying  to  so 
tender  a constitution  as  his  ; for  the  weather  here  is  much  hotter  in 
summer,  and  much  colder  in  winter,  than  in  England ; and  the  transitions 
from  intense  heat  to  extreme  cold  are  often  very  sudden. 

‘‘  Mr.  Fletcher  was  once  told  by  two  physicians  (somewhere),  that  the 
benefit  of  exercise,  for  consumptive  persons,  must  be  estimated  by  the 
violence  of  it ; consequently,  that  riding  on  horseback  was  better  than 
going  in  a carriage,  that  walking  was  better  than  riding,  running  than 
walking,  and  jumping  better  than  all  of  them  put  together.  Our  worthy 
friend  has  scrupulously  followed  this  maxim  ; so  that,  whenever  he  does 
not  take  his  little  hasty  rides  (which  by-the-bye  frequently  occurs),  he 
allows  himself,  for  exercise,  not  more  than  three  minutes,  from  his  studies, 
just  as  dinner  is  being  served,  and  then,  like  harlequin,  he  takes  about 
half  a score  such  violent  leaps  and  plunges  across  the  room,  that  I am 
sometimes  in  pain  for  the  fioor,  and  always  for  his  .bones.” 

During  the  year  1779,  Fletcher  and  William  Perronet  had 
lodged  in  the  same  house  in  Nyon;  now,  as  might  be  expected 
from  the  foregoing  extract,  William  Perronet's  state  of  health 
obliged  him  to  seek  a more  salubrious  situation.  He  went 
to  Lausanne  ; Fletcher  remained  at  Nyon  ; and  was  thus 
pictured  by  his  friend  in  the  month  of  July  next  ensuing  : — 

About  half  a year  ago,  we  broke  up  housekeeping  at  Nyon.  Poor 
dear  Mr.  Fletcher,  with  difflculty,  procured  a miserable  lodging  in  the 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  58. 


440 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1780. 


neighbourhood ; and  I was  obliged  to  go  to  Lausanne,  which  is  seven 
leagues  from  Nyon.  I submitted  the  more  willingly  to  this,  because  he 
talked  of  spending  some  time  at  Lausanne.  I have  been  disappointed 
in  this  respect ; but,  once  or  twice,  I have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
him  at  Nyon.  I found  him  to-day  sitting  in  his  small  apartment,  sur- 
rounded with  books  and  papers,  writing,  or,  as  he  expressed  it,  ‘finishing 
the  first  of  one  of  his  pieces.  When  the  is  likely  to  be 

finished,  one  cannot  pretend  to  say.”^ 

Fletcher  intended  to  return  to  England  in  the  month  of 
September,  but  two  occurrences  prevented  him.  First  of  all, 
he  mislaid  a portion  of  the  manuscript  which  he  wished  to 
publish  before  he  left  Switzerland,  and  had  to  re-write  what 
was  missing. 

“The  misfortune  I hinted  at,’’  said  he  to  William  Perronet,  “was  the 
mislaying  of  a considerable  part  of  my  manuscript.  After  giving  it  up 
as  lost,  I fell  to  work  again  ; went  through  the  double  toil ; and,  when 
I had  done,  last  night,  I accidentally  found  what  I had  mislaid.  This 
has  thrown  me  back  a great  deal.  The  Lord’s  will  be  done  in  all  things ! 
I thank  God,  I have  been  kept  from  fretting  on  the  occasion  ; though  I 
would  not  for  a great  deal  have  such  another  trial.” ^ 

Added  to  this,  and,  perhaps,  partly  in  consequence  of  it, 
his  health  relapsed.  These,  and  other  matters,  are  referred 
to  in  the  following  letter,  addressed  to  his  curate,  Mr. 
Greaves  : — 

“Nyon,  Se^ptember  15,  1780. 

“ My  Dear  Fellow-labourer, — I had  fixed  the  time  of  my 
departure  for  this  month  ; but  now  two  hindrances  stand  in  my  way. 
When  I came  to  collect  the  parts  of  my  manuscript,  I found  the  most 
considerable  part  wanting ; and,  after  a thousand  searches,  I was 
obliged  to  write  it  over  again.  This  accident  compelled  me  to  put  off 
my  journey;  and  now  the  change  of  weather  has  brought  back  some 
symptoms  of  my  disorder.  I speak,  or  rather  whisper,  with  difficulty  ; 
but  I hope  the  quantity  of  grapes  I begin  to  eat  will  have  as  good  an 
effect  upon  me  as  in  the  last  two  autumns. 

“Have  patience  then  a little  while.  If  things  are  not  as  you  could 
wish,  you  can  do  but  as  I have  done  for  many  years, — learn  ;patience 
by  the  things  which  you  sufi^'er.  Crossing  our  will,  getting  the  better 
of  our  inclinations,  and  growing  in  experience,  are  no  mean  advantages, 
and  they  may  all  be  yours. 

“ Mr.  Ireland  writes  me  word  that  if  I return  to  England  now,  the 


^ Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 

2 Ibid, 


Age  51.] 


Religion  in  Switzerland^ 


441 


winter  will  undo  all  I have  been  doing  for  my  health  for  many  years. 
However,  I have  not  quite  laid  aside  the  design  of  spending  the  winter 
with  you  ; but  don’t  expect  me  till  you  see  me.  I am,  nevertheless, 
firmly  purposed  that,  if  I do  not  set  out  this  autumn,  I shall  do  so  next 
spring,  as  early  as  I can. 

^*Till  I had  this  relapse,  I was  able  to  exhort,  in  a private  room, 
three  times  a week ; but  the  Lord  Lieutenant  will  not  allow  me  to  get 
into  a pulpit,  though  they  permit  the  schoolmasters,  who  are  laymen, 
to  put  on  a band  and  read  the  Church  prayers  ; so  high  runs  the  pre- 
judice. The  clergy,  however,  tell  me  that  if  I will  renounce  my 
ordination,  and  get  Presbyterian  Orders  among  them,  they  will  allow 
me  to  preach,  and  on  these  terms  one  of  the  ministers  of  this  town 
offers  me  his  curacy.  A young  clergyman  of  Geneva,  tutor  to  my 
nephew,  appears  to  me  a truly  converted  man  ; and  he  is  so  pleased 
when  I tell  him  there  are  converted  souls  in  England,  that  he  will  go 
with  me  to  learn  English,  and  converse  with  the  British  Christians.  He 
wrote  last  summer,  with  such  force,  to  some  of  the  clergy,  who  are 
stirring  up  the  fire  of  persecution,  that  he  made  them  ashamed,  and  we 
have  since  had  peace  from  that  quarter. 

There  is  little  genuine  piety  in  these  parts ; nevertheless,  there  is 
yet  some  of  the  form  of  it ; so  far  as  to  go  to  the  Lord’s  table  regularly 
four  times  a year.  There  meet  the  adulterers,  the  drunkards,  the 
swearers,  the  infidels,  and  even  the  materialists.  They  have  no  idea 
of  the  double  damnation  that  awaits  hypocrites.  They  look  upon  the 
partaking  of  that  sacrament  as  a ceremony  enjoined  by  the  magistrate. 
At  Zurich,  the  first  town  of  this  country,  they  have  lately  beheaded  a 
clergyman  who  wanted  to  betray  his  country  to  the  Emperor,  to  whom 
it  chiefly  belonged.  It  is  the  town  of  the  great  reformer,  Zuinglius  ; 
yet  there  they  poisoned  the  sacramental  wine  a few  years  ago.  I mention 
this  to  show  you  there  is  great  need  to  bear  a testimony  against  the 
faults  of  the  clergy  here  ; and,  if  I cannot  do  it  from  the  pulpit,  I must 
try  to  do  it  from  the  press.  Their  canons,  which  were  composed  by  two 
hundred  and  thirty  pastors,  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  are  so 
spiritual  and  apostolic  that  I design  to  translate  them  into  English,  if 
I am  spared. 

“ Farewell,  my  dear  brother.  Take  care,  good,  constant,  care  of 
the  flock  committed  to  your  charge  ; especially  the  sick  and  the ypu7ig 
Salute  all  our  dear  parishioners.  Let  me  still  have  a part  in  your 
prayers,  public  and  private  ; and  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  as,  through  grace, 
I am  enabled  to  do  in  all  my  little  tribulations.”  ^ 

On  the  same  day,  Fletcher  wrote  to  Mr.  Thomas  York: — 

“ I have  been  so  well,  that  my  friends  here  thought  of  giving  me  a 
wife  ; but  what  should  I do  with  a Swiss  wife  at  Madeley  ? I want  rather 
an  English  nurse ; but  more  still  a mighty  Saviour,  and,  thanks  be  to 


Letters,  1791,  p.  60. 


442 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1780. 


God ! that  I have.  Help  me  to  rejoice  in  that  never-dying,  never- 
moving  Friend. 

Having  heard  that  my  dear  friend  Ireland  has  discharged  the 
greatest  part  of  my  debt,  I have  not  sent  the  money;  but  I hope  to 
bring  with  me  ;^ioo,  to  reimburse  my  friends  in  part,  till  I can  do  it 
altogether.  But  I shall  never  be  able  to  pay  you  the  debt  of  kindness 
I have  contracted  with  you.  I look  to  Jesus,  my  Surety,  for  that.  May 
He  repay  you  a thousand-fold  ! ” ^ 

To  William  Wase,  the  good  old  Methodist,  Fletcher 
wrote,  at  the  same  time  : — 

Give  my  love  and  thanks  to  the  preachers  (William  Boothby  and 
Jonathan  Hern)  “who  come  to  help  us.  Enforce  my  exhortation  to  the 
Societies  in  much  love.  Go  and  comfort,  from  me,  Mrs.  Palmer  and 
Mrs.  Cartwright ; and,  since  God  has  placed  you  all  in  a widowed 
state,  agree  to  take  Jesus  for  a never-dying  Friend  and  Bridegroom. 
Your  Maker  is  your  husband.  He  is  all  in  all.  What,  then,  have  you 
lost  ? Christ  \s  yours  and  all  things  with  Him.  The  resurrection  day 
will  soon  come.  Prepare  yourselves  for  the  marriage  feast  of  the  Lamb  ; 
and  till  then,  rejoice  in  the  expectation  of  that  day.  I sympathize  with 
our  sickly  friends,  widow  Matthews,  M.  Blummer,  E.  Whittaker,  I.  York, 
and  S.  Aston.  Salute  them  kindly  from  me.  Help  them  to  trim 
their  lamps,  and  to  wait  for  the  Bridegroom.  Thank  Thomas  and 
Nelly  Fennel  for  their  love  to  the”  (Methodist)  “preachers,  and  give 
them  mine,  and  also  give  it  to  the  little  companies  they  meet  with,  to 
call  for  strength,  comfort,  and  help,  in  time  of  need.  Fare  ye  all  well 
in  Jesus  ! I say,  again,  farewell  ! ” ^ 

Fletcher’s  “ Exhortation  ''  to  the  Methodist  Societies  was 
as  follows  : — 

“ To  the  Societies  in  and  about  Madeley. 

“ Grace  and  peace,  truth  and  love,  be  multiplied  to  you  all.  Stand 
fast  in  the  Lord,  my  dear  brethren.  Stand  fast  in  Jesus  ; stand  fast  to 
one  another ; stand  fast  to  the  vow  we  have  so  often  renewed  together, 
upon  our  knees,  and  at  the  Lord’s  table.  Don’t  be  so  unloving,  so 
cowardly,  as  to  let  one  of  your  little  company  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
world  and  the  devil ; and  agree  to  crucify  the  body  of  sin  altogether. 

“I  am  still  in  a strait  between  the  work  which  Providence  cuts  out 
for  me  here,  and  the  love  which  draws  me  to  you.  When  I shall  have 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  let  it  not  be  embittered  by  the  sorrow  of 
finding  any  of  you  half-hearted  and  lukewarm.  Let  me  find  you  all 
strong  in  the  Lord,  and  increased  in  humble  love.  Salute  from  me  all 
who  followed  with  us  fifteen  years  ago.  Care  still  for  your  old  brethren. 


^ Letters,  179T,  p.  62. 
2 Ibid,  p.  61. 


Age  si.]  The  House  of  Fletcher's  Nativity. 


443 


Let  there  be  no  Cain  among  you,  no  Esau,  no  Lot’s  wife.  Let  the  love 
of  David  and  Jonathan,  heightened  by  that  of  Martha,  Mary,  Lazarus, 
and  our  Lord,  shine  in  all  your  thoughts,  your  tempers,  your  words, 
your  looks,  and  your  actions.  If  you  love  one  another,  your  little  meet- 
ings will  be  a renewed  feast ; and  the  God  of  love,  who  is  peculiarly 
present  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
will  abundantly  bless  you.  Bear  me  still  upon  your  breasts  in  prayer, 
as  I do  you  upon  mine ; and  rejoice  with  me  that  the  Lord,  who  made, 
redeemed,  and  comforts  us,  bears  us  all  u^pon  His.  I am  yours  in 
Him, 

'‘J.  Fletcher.”* 

For  some  time  after  his  arrival  in  Switzerland,  Fletcher 
lived  in  the  house  where  he  was  born,  a respectable  old 
building,  erected  on  an  elevated  site  at  the  extremity  of  the 
town.  Close  at  hand  was  the  shady  wood,  where  he  used  to 
read,  meditate,  and  pray,  and  meet  his  flock  of  little  children. 
Near  the  house  was  a terrace,  from  which  the  whole  of  the 
glorious  lake  of  Geneva  was  visible  ; and,  in  the  distance, 
might  be  seen  the  city  itself.  Towering  above  all,  there  was 
the  unutterably  grand  Mont  Blanc.  No  wonder  Fletcher 
spoke  of  the  “pleasant  apartment”  where  he  was  born,  as 
having  “one  of  the  finest  prospects  in  the  world.”  For  some 
reason,  however,  he  now  exchanged  the  house  of  his  nativity 
for  another  not  so  enchanting.  Hence  the  following  letter 
to  William  Perronet,  who  was  residing  at  Lausanne  : — 

'' Nyon,  October  2,,  1780. 

‘'My  Very  Dear  Friend, — I thank  you  for  your  letters.  They 
have  given  me  much  pleasure,  as  I see  that  you  will  at  last  end  your 
business,  and  get  ready  to  set  out  in  the  spring  with  Mr.  Ireland,  who 
comes  with  his  family,  I know  not  where  ; but  I think  he  will  spend  the 
winter  at  or  about  Avignon.  If  you  will  go  and  join  him,  I shall  be 
glad  to  go  also,  for  the  stream  under  this  house  does  not  make  it  very 
wholesome. 

“ My  brother  thinks,  as  well  as  myself,  that  you  may  conclude  upon 
the  terms  you  mention.  ‘ Better  a dinner  of  herbs  with  peace,  than  a 
stalled  ox  and  noise  therewith.’ 

“ I hope  to  go  to  Lausanne,  directly  after  vintage,  to  offer  a manu- 
script to  the  censors,  to  see  if  they  will  allow  its  being  published  ; so  I 
do  not  invite  you  to  share  my  damp  bed.  My  sister  was  so  kind  as  to 
look  for  another  house,  but  we  find  none  to  let  under  a year.  We  are 
here  travellers,  so  we  must  expect  some  difficulties  and  a good  many 
inconveniences. 


Letters,  1791,  p.  63. 


444 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


If  Mr.  Ireland  goes  to  Marseilles,  you  might  go  and  see  your  cousin 
there.  Lift  up  your  heart,  and  see  by  faith  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  our 
heavenly  Kinsman  and  Brother  ; and  when  you  rise  there,  take  by  the 
hand  of  prayer  your  affectionate  friend, 

''John  Fletcher.’’  ^ 

Soon  after  this,  William  Perronet  was  seized  with  mortal 
illness.  In  a letter  to  the  Vicar  of  Shoreham,  Fletcher 
wrote  : — 

" December  5,  1780.  Our  wise  and  good  God  sees  fit  to  try  my  dear 
friend,  your  son,  with  a want  of  appetite  and  uneasiness  in  his  bowels. 
He  also  often  returns  the  little  food  he  takes.  Some  time  ago,  he  came 
to  Nyon,  from  Lausanne,  and  we  went  together  to  Geneva,  where  we 
settled  your  affair  with  three  of  the  Geneva  co-heirs,  upon  the  same 
footing  as  he  had  settled  with  those  of  Chateau  d’Oex.  He  bears  his 
weakness  with  much  patience  and  resignation.”  ^ 

Fletcher  was  now  employed  in  finishing  the  poem,  which 
he  wished  to  publish  before  he  left  Switzerland  ; but  he 
delighted  in  spending  as  much  time  with  his  dying  friend  as 
possible. 

" Every  night,”  says  William  Perronet,  in  a letter  dated  January  22, 
1781,  "after  praying  with  me,  he  sings  this  verse  at  parting  : — ■ 

" ' Then  let  our  humble  faith  address 
His  mercy  and  His  power  ; 

We  shall  obtain  delivering  grace 
In  the  distressing  hour.’  ” ^ 

Within  three  weeks  after  this,  Fletcher’s  book  was  finished, 
and  the  business  of  William  Perronet  was  ended.  Fletcher 
wished  to  set  out  for  England,  but  was  still  detained  in 
Switzerland.  Hence  the  following,  addressed  to  Mr.  Wase: — 

" Nyon>  February  14,  1781. 

"My  Dear  Friend, — I thank  you  for  your  kind  remembrance  of 
me.  I need  not  be  urged  to  return  ; brotherly  love  draws  me  to 
Madeley,  and  circumstances  drive  me  hence. 

" I am  exceeding  glad  that  there  is  a revival  on  your  side  the  water  ” 
[the  river  Severn],  "and  that  you  are  obliged  to  enlarge  your  Room.'* 
I wish  I could  contribute  to  shake  the  dry  bones  in  my  parish,  but  I 


^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  1830,  p.  831. 
^ Benson’s  " Life  of  Fletcher.’ 

" Ibid. 

'*  The  Methodist  meeting-house. 


Age  51.] 


Leittr  to  Mr.  Wase. 


445 


have  no  confidence  in  the  flesh.  What  I could  not  do  when  I was  in 
my  strength,  I have  little  prospect  of  doing  now  that  my  strength  is 
broken.  However,  I don’t  despair,  for  the  work  is  not  mine  but  the 
Lord's,  If  the  few  who  love  the  Gospel  would  be  simple  and  zealous, 
God  would  again  hear  their  prayers  for  those  who  are  content  to  go  on 
in  the  broad  way.  I thank  you  for  your  view  of  the  iron  bridge.^ 

“ My  friend  Ireland  invites  me  to  join  him  in  the  South  of  France  ; 
and  I long  to  see  whether  I could  not  have  more  liberty  to  preach  the 
Word  among  Papists  than  among  Protestants.  But  it  is  so  little  that 
I can  do,  that  I doubt  much  whether  it  is  worth  while  going  so  far  upon 
so  little  a chance.  If  I were  stronger,  and  had  more  time,  the  fear  of 
being  hanged  should  not  detain  me.  I trust  to  set  out  next  month,  and 
to  be  in  England  in  May  ; it  won’t  be  my  fault  if  it  is  not  in  April. 

I am  here  in  the  midst  of  rumours  of  war.  The  burghers  of  Geneva 
have  disarmed  the  garrison,  and  taken  possession  of  one  of  the  gates. 
I had,  however,  the  luck  to  get  in,  and  to  bring  away  my  nephew,  who 
is  a student  there.  Troops  are  preparing  to  block  them  up.  The  Lord 
may,  at  this  time,  punish  the  repeated  backslidings  of  those  Laodicean 
Christians,  most  of  whom  have  become  infidels.  This  event  may  a little 
retard  my  journey,  as  I must  pass  through  Geneva.  It  also  puts  off  the 
printing  of  my  manuscript,  for  there  is  nothing  going  on  in  that  unhappy 
town  but  disputes,  and  fights,  and  mounting  of  guards. 

‘‘  Remember  me  in  much  love  to  Mr.  Greaves,  Mr.  Gilpin,  and  the  ” 
[Methodist]  “ preachers  who  labour  with  us.”  L 

At  the  same  date,  Fletcher  wrote  to  Mr.  John  Owen,  his 
schoolmaster  at  Madeley,  as  follows  : — 

‘‘  Nyon,  February  14,  1781.  I thank  you,  my  dear  brother,  for  your 
kind  lines.  I hope  you  help  both  Mr.  Greaves  and  the”  [Methodist] 
‘^preachers  to  stir  up  the  people  in  my  parish.  Be  much  in  prayer. 
Take  counsel  with  Michael  Onions,  Mrs.  Palmer,  and  Molly  Cartwright 
about  the  most  effectual  means  to  recover  the  backsliders,  and  to  keep 
together  to  Christ  and  to  each  other  those  who , still  hold  their  shield. 
Salute  them  kindly  from  me,  and  tell  them  that  I hope  they  will  give 
me  a good  account  of  their  little  companies  ” [Methodist  classes]  and 
of  themselves. 

‘Mf  I were  not  a minister,  I would  be  a schoolmaster , to  have  the 
pleasure  of  bringing  up  children  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  That  pleasure 
is  yours  ; relish  it,  and  it  will  comfort  and  strengthen  you  in  your  work. 
The  joy  of  the  Lord  and  of  charity  is  our  strength.  Salute  the  children 
from  me,  and  tell  them  I long  to  show  them  the  way  to  happiness  and 
heaven.  Have  you  mastered  the  stiffness  and  shyness  of  your  temper  ? 


^ The  bridge  across  the  Severn  at  Coalbrookdale,  the  first  iron  bridge 
erected  in  England  ; cast  in  1779,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Abraham 
Darby. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  67. 


446 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


Charity  gives  a meekness^  an  affability ^ a child-like  simplicity  and 
openness,  which  nature  has  denied  you.  Let  me  find  you  shining  by 
these  virtues,  and  you  will  revive  me  much.  God  bless  your  labour 
about  the  sheep  and  the  lambs  ! 

'‘Read  the  following  note  to  all  who  fear  God  and  love  Jesus  and 
each  other,  assembling  in  Madeley  church  : — 

" My  Dear  Brethren, — My  heart  leaps  with  joy  at  the  thought  of 
coming  to  see  you  and  bless  the  Lord  with  you.  Let  us  not  stay  to 
praise  Him  till  we  see  each  other.  Let  us  see  Him  in  His  Son,  in  His 
works,  and  in  all  the  members  of  Christ.  How  slow  will  post-horses 
go  in  comparison  of  love  ! Meet  me,  as  I do  you,  in  spirit ; and  we 
shall  not  stay  till  April  or  May  to  bless  God  together.  Now  will  be  the 
time  of  union  and  love.”  ^ 

For  another  month  Fletcher  was  detained  at  Nyon,  when 
he  wrote  to  Michael  Onions  the  following: — 

" Nyon,  March  1781. 

" I thank  you,  my  dear  brother,  for  your  kind  remembrance  of  me, 
and  for  your  letters.  I hope  to  bring  my  fuller  thanks  to  you  in  person. 

"Hold  up  your  hands.  Confirm  the  feeble  knees.  Set  up  an  Ebenezer 
every  hour  of  the  day.  In  everything  give  thanks  ; and,  in  order  to 
this,  pray  without  ceasing,  and  rejoice  evermore.  My  heart  sympathizes 
with  poor  Molly  Cartwright.  Tell  her,  from  me,  that  her  husband  lives 
in  Him  who  is  the  Resurrection.  In  Christ  there  is  no  death,  but  the 
victory  over  death.  O!  let  us  live  in  Him,  to  Him,  for  Him,  who  more 
than  repairs  all  our  losses.  My  love  to  your  wife.  Tell  her  she  promised 
me  to  be  Jesus’s,  as  well  as  yours.  My  love  to  John  Owen  and  all  our 
other”  [Methodist]  " leaders,  and  by  them  to  the  few  who  do  not  tire 
by  the  way.  With  regard  to  the  others,  despair  of  none.  Charity 
hopeth  all  things,  and  brings  many  things  to  pass.  All  things  are 
possible  to  him  that  believeth  ; all  things  are  easy  to  him  that  loveth. 
God  be  with  you,  and  make  you  faithful  unto  death ! This  is  my  prayer 
for  you,  and  all  the  Society,  and  all  my  dear  parishioners,  to  whom  I 
beg  to  be  remembered.  I have  no  place  to  write  their  names,  but  I 
pray  they  may  all  be  written  in  the  book  of  life,  God  is  merciful, 
gracious,  and  faithful.  I set  my  seal  to  His  lovingkindness.  Witness 
my  heart  and  hand,  * " J.  FLETCHER.”  ^ 

Fletcher  had  promised  to  join  Mr.  Ireland  at  Montpelier  ; 
but,  meanwhile,  William  Perronet,  who  had  returned  to 
Lausanne,  was  so  much  worse  in  health,  that  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  accompany  his  friend.  Two  days  before  leaving 
Switzerland,  Fletcher  visited  him,  and,  in  a letter  to  the 
aged  Vicar  of  Shoreham,  wrote  : — 


Letters,  1791,  p.  65. 


Ibid,  p.  68. 


Age  51.] 


Fletcher^ s Return  to  England, 


447 


^‘Miss  Perronet  and  her  mother  ‘ are  as  kind  to  him  as  my  dear 
friends  at  Stoke  Newington  were  to  me  when  I lay  sick  there.  His 
mind  is  quite  easy  ; he  is  sweetly  resigned  to  the  will  of  God.”  ^ 

At  Montpelier,  Fletcher  overtaxed  his  strength  ; and  at 
Lyons,  on  his  way  to  England,  wrote  as  follows  to  his  sick 
and  dying  friend,  whom  he  had  been  obliged  to  leave  behind 
him  : — 


Lyons,  A^ril  6,  1781. 

“My  Dear  Friend, — We  are  both  weak,  both  afflicted;  but  Jesus 
careth  for  us.  He  is  everywhere,  and  here  He  has  all  power  to  deliver 
us  ; and  He  may  do  it  by  ways  we  little  think  of : 'As  Thou  wilt,  when 
Thou  wilt,  and  where  Thou  wilt,^  said  Baxter:  let  us  say  the  same.  It 
was  of  the  Lord  you  did  not  come  with  me  : you  would  have  been  sick 
as  I am.  I am  overdone  with  riding  and  preaching.  I preached  twice 
in  the  fields.  I carry  home  with  me  much  weakness  and  a pain  in  the 
back,  which  I fear  will  end  in  the  gravel.  The  Lord’s  will  be  done  ! I 
know  I am  called  to  suffer  and  die.  The  journey  tires  me  ; but,  through 
mercy,  I bear  it.  Let  us  believe  and  rejoice  in  the  Lord  Jesus.” ^ 

Three  weeks  after  this,  Fletcher  preached  in  City  Road 
Chapel,  London,  and,  the  next  day  (April  28),  set  out  to  the 
hospitable  home  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Ireland,  at  Brislington. 
At  this  time,  one  of  the  Methodist  preachers,  stationed  in 
the  Bristol  circuit,  was  Thomas  Rankin,  who  had  spent  nearly 
five  years  in  America,  and  who,  in  1778,  had  been  driven 
home  by  the  American  rebellion.  Hearing  of  Fletcher’s 
arrival  at  Brislington,  Rankin  went  to  visit  him,  and  wrote: — 

“ I had  such  an  interview  with  him  as  I shall  never  forget.  I had 
not  seen  him  for  upwards  of  ten  years.  His  looks,  his  salutation,  and 
his  address,  struck  me  with  wonder,  solemnity,  and  joy.  We  retired 
into  Mr.  Ireland’s  garden;  and  he  began  to  inquire  concerning  the 
work  of  God  in  America.  I gave  him  a full  account  of  everything  that 
he  wished  to  know.  During  this  relation,  he  stopped  me  six  times,  and, 
in  the  shadow  of  the  trees,  poured  out  his  soul  to  God,  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  work,  and  for  our  brethren  there.  He  several  times  called  upon 
me,  also,  to  commend  them  to  God  in  prayer.  This  was  an  hour  never 
to  be  forgotten.  Before  we  parted,  I engaged  him  to  come  to  Bristol, 
on  the  Monday  following,  to  meet  the  select  band  in  the  forenoon,  and 


1 Probably  William  Perronet’ s aunt  and  cousin;  certainly  not  his 
mother  and  sister. 

2 Benson’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 

" Ibid, 


448 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


to  preach  in  the  evening.  During  the  hour  he  spent  with  the  select 
band,  the  room  appeared  as  ‘the  house  of  God,  and  the  gate  of  heaven.’ 
At  night,  he  preached  from,  ‘ We  are  bound  to  give  thanks  alway  to 
God  for  you,  brethren  beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the 
beginning  chosen  you  to  salvation,  through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit 
and  belief  of  the  truth.’  The  whole  congregation  was  in  tears.  He 
spoke  like  one  who  had  but  just  left  the  converse  of  God  and  angels. 
The  different  conversations  I had  with  him,  and  his  prayers  and  preach- 
ing, during  the  few  days  he  stayed  at  Bristol  and  Brislington,  were 
attended  with  such  effects  upon  me,  that,  for  some  months  afterwards, 
not  a cloud  intervened  between  God  and  my  soul,  no,  not  for  one  hour. 
Of  all  the  men  I ever  knew,  I never  saw  such  love  to  God  and  man, 
such  deadness  to  the  world,  such  entire  consecratedness  to  Jesus,  as  in 
him.  It  often  appeared  to  me  that  his  every  breath  was  prayer  and 
praise.  He  lived  more  like  a disembodied  spirit  than  a human  being.”  * 

When  at  Marseilles,  on  his  way  to  Switzerland,  in  March, 
1778,  Fletcher  wrote  a long  letter,^  to  Miss  Bosanquet,  on 
Christian  Perfection,  and  respecting  his  unpublished  Essay  on 
the  New  Birth.  Miss  Bosanquet  replied  to  that,  in  a letter 
dated  August  30,  1778.  Strange  to  say,  this  letter  was  not 
put  into  Fletcher's  hands  until  nearly  three  years  afterwards. 
During  this  interval,  there  seems  to  have  been  no  corre- 
spondence between  him  and  the  lady  who  was  speedily  to 
become  his  wife.  On  his  return  from  Switzerland,  he 
wrote  her  the  following,  which  is  now  for  the  first  time 
published  : — 

“ Brislington,  near  Bristol,  May  i,  1781. 

“ Dear  Madam, — Your  kind  favour  dated  August  30,  1778,  having 
been  mislaid  in  a drawer  and  forgotten,  did  not  come  into  my  hands 
till  this  morning.  I hope  my  speedy  taking  of  the  pen,  to  acknowledge 
so  unexpected  a favour,  will  atone  for  the  forgetfulness  of  my  friend. 

“ You  speak.  Madam,  of  a letter  from  Bath  ; I do  not  recollect,  at 
present,  your  having  favoured  me  with  one  from  that  place.  Is  it  my 
lot  to  be  tried,  or  disappointed  in  this  respect  ? Well,  the  hairs  of  our 
heads,  and  the  letters  of  our  friends,  are  all  numbered  : not  one  of  the 
former  falls,  not  one  of  the  latter  miscarries,  without  the  will  of  Him,  to 
whose  orders  we  have  long  since  fully  and  cheerfully  subscribed. 

“ I have  sincerely  aimed  at  truth  in  writing  the  Essay  you  have  been 
so  kind  as  to  peruse.^  If  I am  not  mistaken.  Dr.  Coke  told  me,  when 
I passed  through  London,  that  he  had  it ; but  I went  out  of  town  in 


^ Thomas  Rankin’s  MS.  Journal. 

^ See  the  letter  dated  “ March  7,  1778.” 
3 His  “ Essay  on  the  New  Birth.” 


Age  51.]  Original  Letter  to  Miss  Bosanquet. 


449 


such  a hurry  that  I had  not  time  to  take  it  with  me.  I feel  the  propriety 
of  your  remarks,  and  shall  make  the  alterations  you  mention,  as  soon 
as  I shall  have  the  manuscript. 

I had  thought  of  what  you  name,  respecting  a less  ^lan  of  the 
doctrine  of  the  New  Birth,— a plan  calculated  to  make  way  for  the  larger 
essay,  and  to  guide  into  the  truth  those  who  have  never  taken  one  step 
without  the  leading  strings  of  prejudice,  and  who  cannot  judge  of  a 
doctrine  if  it  be  not  brought  within  the  narrow  compass  and  focus  of 
their  understanding.  I shall  be  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  consulting 
you  about  that  sketch,  if  I live  to  make  it.  I love  truth,  because  I love 
yesits ; but  I am,  every  way,  too  feeble  an  instrument  to  defend  and 
hold  it  forth  with  success.  Your  thought  about  it  makes  me  pray  with 
earnestness  that  I may,  in  some  degree,  answer  your  too  favourable 
opinion  of  the  importance  of  my  little  attempts  to  vindicate,  or  clear  up, 
some  part  of  the  Gospel  truths. 

Alas  ! what  am  I ? A cracked  voice  crying  in  the  wilderness  ; — a 
blunted  pen  scribbling  in  a village.  Thanks  be  to  grace,  however,  I 
sincerely  desire  to  be  a living  shadow  of  the  Divine  Man,  who  is  truth 
and  love  incarnate.  I sincerely  desire  to  embrace  those  great  and 
precious  promises  given  unto  us,  whereby  we  may  become  partakers  of 
the  Divine  nature.  I will  not  rest  in  the  first  Comforter,  so  as  to  slight 
that  other  Comforter,  who  is  to  abide  with  us  for  ever.  I want  not 
only  to  see  Jesus  altogether  lovely,  but  to  feel  Him  altogether  'powerfitl 
and  wise,  both  in  myself  and  in  all  my  fellow-Christians.  Restless, 
resigned  for  this,  I wait  for  this.  My  vehement  soul  is  on  the  stretch. 
Some  tell  me  I carry  my  views  too  high  ; but  how  can  that  be,  if  God 
can  do  in  us  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  we  can  ask  or  think  ? Is 
not  the  soul  joined  completely  to  the  Lord,  one  s^pirit  with  Him  ? Are 
we  not  called  to  come  to  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of 
Christ  ? Is  a dwarfs  state  of  grace  the  full  prize  of  our  high  calling  ? 
If  this  hope  preys  upon  my  feeble  frame,  I dare  not  cast  it  off : let  me 
rather  die  a martyr  to  it  than  lose  it.  Why  should  there  not  be  true 
martyrs  for  the  hope,  as  well  as  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospel  ? At  all 
events,  let  us  wait  for  the  great  salvation  of  God  the  Spirit.  Against 
hope,  let  us  believe  in  hope  that  we  shall  see  the  royal  priesthood 
clothed  with  Divine  righteousness,  and  all  God’s  saints  rejoice  and 
sing. 

“The  openness  with  which  you  mention  what  some  might  call  yottr 
enthusiasm,  makes  me  reveal  to  you.  Madam,  what  some  call  mine. 
I own  I do  not  believe  that  Scripture  repealed,  ‘ Your  young  men  shall 
see  visions;  your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams.’  ‘ These  signs  shall 
follow  them  that  believe,’  etc.  (See  Mark  xvi.  17,  18).  ' My  sons  and 

my  daughters  shall  prophesy.’  ‘ Desire  spiritual  gifts,  but  rather  that 
ye  may  prophesy’  (i  Cor.  xiv.  2).  Shall  I offend  you,  if  I ask  you  in 
simplicity  the  following  questions  ? Do  you  know  any  soul  filled  with 
all  the  fulness  of  God  ? Anyone  walking  as  Christ  also  walked,  and 
able  to  say,  in  truth,  Ws  He  was,  so  are  we  in  this  world?’  Do  you 
know  any  knit  together  in  love,  sharing  all  the  riches  of  the  full  assur- 

29 


450 


TVes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


ance  of  U7zder standings  to  the  acknowledgment  of  the  mystery  of  God, 
and  of  Christ  in  us  the  hope  of  glory  (Col.  i.  27  ; ii.  2)  ? Or,  are  the 
professors  about  you  (far  from  having  the  full  assurance  of  understanding 
with  respect  to  this  mystery)  ready  to  say,  when  one  speaks  of  this 
mystery,  ‘ Thou  bringest  strange  things  to  our  ears  ’ ? ( 

If  you  condescend  to  favour  me  with  an  answer,  please  to  direct  it  j 

to  me  at  Madeley,  Salop.  There  I hope  to  be  next  week.  In  the  j 

meantime,  I pray  the  Lord  to  give  us  an  understanding,  that  we  may  i 
know  more  of  Him,  and  be  completely  in  His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  that  is,  | 
in  the  true.  Divine,  and  eternal  life.  May  the  living  unction  be  and 
abide  with  you  ! I ask  it  ardently  for  you  ; condescend  to  ask  it  also 
for,  dear  Madam,  your  obliged  friend  and  servant  in  the  Gospel, 

J.  Fletcher. 

P.S. — The  third  part,  which  I designed  to  add^  to  the  ‘ Essay  on 
the  New  Birth,’  was  an  application  to  the  disciples  of  Moses,  of  John, 
and  of  Jesus  glorified ; to  those  who  have  the  fear  of  God,  the  faith  of 
the  Son,  and  the  love  of  the  Spirit.  My  health  is  mended,  thanks  be  to 
God  ! but  my  lungs  remain  weak.  Please  to  remember  me  in  Christian 
love  to  Sister  Crosby. 

Miss  Bosanquet, 

At  Cross  Hall, 

Near  Leads  [sic), 

Yorkshire.” 

A few  days  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Fletcher,  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Ireland,  returned  to  Madeley,  having  been 
absent  from  his  flock  since  November  1776, — four  years  and 
a-half. 


‘ This  was  not  added. 


1776—81.]  Literary  Work  done  in  Retirement. 


451 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

LITERARY  WORK  DONE  IN  RETIREMENT. 

FLETCHER’S  long  seclusion  from  public  life  is  well 
described  in  two  lines  of  the  poet  Thompson : 

Retirement,  rural  quiet,  friendship,  books. 

Progressive  virtue,  and  approving  Heaven.” 

The  four  and  a-half  years,  during  which  he  was  away 
from  Madeley,  were  spent  in  great  weakness,  but  not  in 
idleness.  To  say  nothing  of  the  works  he  published,  while 
he  remained  in  England,  namely,  his  ‘‘  Answer  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Toplady's  ‘Vindication  of  the  Divine  Decrees;'”  his 
“ Vindication  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley's  ‘ Calm  Address 
to  our  American  Colonies;'”  his  “ American  Patriotism;” 
his  “Doctrines  of  Grace  and  Justice;”  and  his  “Plan  of 
Reconciliation  ; ” he  was  employed,  whilst  in  Switzerland, 
upon  two  of  the  most  remarkable  productions  of  his  fertile 
genius. 

The  first  was  a poem,  in  the  French  language,  and  was 
published  in  Geneva,  with  the  title  “ La  Louange  ; ” — a 
paraphrastic  expansion  of  Psalm  cxlviii.  The  work  was 
conceived  in  England,  but  was  written  in  Switzerland, 
Fletcher  says  he  “ was  favoured  with  the  critical  remarks  of 
many  persons  distinguished  for  their  learning,  taste,  and  the 
works  with  which  they  had  enriched  the  Church,  and  the 
Republic  of  Letters.  At  the  end  of  certain  Cantos,  are 
Notes,  or  small  Dissertations,  serving  to  explain,  or  illustrate, 
some  of  the  truths  inserted  in  the  body  of  the  work.”  Ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  country  and  the  age,  before  the 
book  could  be  published,  it  had  to  be  submitted  to  an 
official  appointed  to  read  manuscripts,  previous  to  their 


45^ 


TVesky  s Designated  Successor, 


[1776—81. 


being  printed  ; and  the  following  was  the  approbation  given 
to  Fletcher’s  Poem  : — 

I have  read  this  work,  which,  in  my  judgment,  everywhere  breathes 
Piety,  Faith,  and  Christian  Charity. 

''De  Bons,  Censeury 

After  his  return  to  England,  Fletcher  enlarged  the  work, 
and,  in  1785,  published  an  edition,  still  in  the  French  lan- 
guage, with  the  title  : — “ La  Grace  et  la  Nature,  Poeme — 
Seconde  Edition  plus  complete.  A Londre.  De  Tlmprimerie 
de  R.  Hindmarsh,  Clerkenwell  Close  ; Chez  T.  Longman, 
dans  Paternoster  Row  ; a Dublin  Chez  J.  Charrnier,  dans 
Kapel  Street;  et  pres  du  Pont  de  fer,  in  Shropshire,  1785,” 
8vo  442  pp.  By  permission,  the  book  was  dedicated,  A 
la  Reine  de  la  Grande  Bretagne.”  The  dedication,  dated 
‘‘  a Madeley  pres  de  Coalbrook-dale,  dans  la  Comte  de  Salop, 
le  6 de  Sept.  1784,”  was  characteristic,  and  as  follows  : — 

Madam, — The  parish,  which,  in  the  centre  of  your  kingdom,  pro- 
duced an  iron  bridge,*  being  always  fruitful  in  singularities,  has  now 
produced  a French  poem  : His  Majesty  gave  a favourable  reception  to 
the  model  of  our  bridge,  and  will  Your  Majesty  refuse  the  dedication  of 
our  poem  ? The  solidity  of  an  iron  bridge  sustained  by  two  rocks 
renders  useless  the  support  of  a Royal  hand ; but  a work  on  devotion 
has  not  the  same  solidity. 

‘‘A  French  Poem  in  England  will  always  require  support ; but,  if  the 
subject  be  religious,  a powerful  protection  becomes  doubly  necessary ; 
and  where  can  I find,  among  mortals,  a more  firm  security  than  your 
august  name  ? Your  court.  Madam,  admits  the  French  language ; 
your  generous  heart  cherishes  moral  virtues ; your  exalted  mind  is 
pleased  to  encourage  the  cultivation  of  the  fine  Arts,  among  which 
poetry  occupies  the  first  rank.  And,  if  a Queen  of  England  permitted 
Voltaire  to  dedicate  to  her  the  praises  of  a French  Monarch,^  your 
piety.  Madam,  will  not  refuse  those  of  the  King  of  kings,  celebrated  in 
a poem,  which  has  for  its  argument  the  divine  song  of  a Sovereign,  and 
the  third  Canto  of  which  regards  Kings  and  Princes. 

*‘May  your  Majesty,  constantly  surrounded  with  the  most  precious 
benedictions,  never  stand  in  need  of  the  consolations  offered  to  the 
afflicted  in  the  ninth  Canto  ! And,  when  you  have  long  beheld  that 
happy  and  sweet  peace  flourish,  which  is  celebrated  in  this  poem,®  may 


^ The  bridge  across  the  Severn,  at  Coalbrook  Dale,  regarded  as  one 
of  the  wonders  of  the  age. 

^ Voltaire’s  ‘^Henriade,”  printed  in  London  in  1726,  was  dedicated 
to  the  Queen  of  George  I. 

® An  Essay  on  the  Peace  of  1783,”  also  written  in  French,  and  now 
incorporated  with  La  Grace  et  la  Nature.” 


1776—81.1 


La  Grace  et  la  Nature^ 


453 


you,  without  sorrow,  exchange  your  heavy  crown  for  one  of  those  bnl- 
liant  diamonds  reserved  for  princes,  who  serve  God,  and  cause  righ- 
teousness to  flourish  in  the  earth  ! These  are  the  ardent  prayers  of  him 
who  has  the  honour  to  be,  with  that  profound  respect,  which  virtue  truly 
merits  when  united  to  greatness, 

“ Madam,  your  majesty’s  most  humble  and  devoted  servant, 

''J.  W.  Fletcher.” 

In  his  preface,  Fletcher  says  : — 

'‘A  former  edition  of  this  poem  was  entitled  ^ Praise  ^ ^ because  the 
writer’s  principal  design  was  to  impress  his  readers  with  the  force  of 
these  words,  ‘ Offer  to  the  Lord  the  sacrifice  of  upraise t It  is  now 
presented  to  the  public  with  alterations,  and  the  addition  of  ten  new 
Cantos,  under  the  title  of  ‘ Grace  and  Nature;  ’ or  a descant  on  creation, 
as  productive  of  the  praise  due  to  the  great  Creator.” 

The  book  is  a remarkable  one.  Every  creature  of  God, 
animate  and  inanimate,  except  devils  and  damned  men  in 
hell,  seems  to  be  called  upon  to  unite  in  offering  praise  to 
God.  That  Fletcher  throbbed  with  the  poetic  fire  cannot, 
in  fairness,  be  denied.  Perhaps  some  of  his  thoughts  are 
fanciful  ; and  his  work,  in  other  respects,  may  be  imperfect ; 
but  many  of  his  conceptions  and  utterances  are  worthy  not 
only  of  being  read,  but  of  being  remembered.  The  following 
quotations,  taken  from  a translation  of  it  by  the  Rev.  Miles 
Martindale,  may  furnish  a faint  idea  of  its  style  and  merits. 

Like  other  poets,  Fletcher  begins  with  prayer  for  super- 
natural inspiration  : — 

‘‘Thou  Glorious  Power,  whom  thrones  supernal  praise. 

Eternal  source  of  life,  of  love,  and  grace  ; 

While  joyful  throngs  surround  Thy  shining  seat. 

Behold  a worm  low-bending  at  Thy  feet ! 

His  darkness  chase  with  Thy  all-cheering  ray  ; 

On  his  weak  reason  shed  celestial  day ; 

His  breast  transform  with  renovating  Are, 

With  harmony  divine  his  soul  inspire.” 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  a wood  adjoined  the  house 
where  Fletcher  resided  at  Nyon,  and  that  this  was  one  of 
his  favourite  resorts  for  prayer,  reading,  and  meditation,  and 
that  here  he  was  accustomed  to  instruct  his  congregation  of 


The  title,  in  French,  was  “ La  Louange.” 


454 


Wesley^s  Designated  Successor. 


[1776—81. 


little  children.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  ensuing 
lines  are  descriptive  of  Fletcher’s  enjoyments  in  this  sylvan 
cathedral : — 

Ye  solemn  woods,  where  music  loves  to  dwell, 

Whose  zephyrs  breathe  the  sweet  balsamic  smell ; 

Here  kindles  piety  divinely  bright, 

The  heart  replete  with  love  and  joyous  light. 

To  crown  the  lay,  the  feathered  nations  raise 
Their  notes  with  mine,  to  sound  the  Eternal’s  praise  \ 

While  innocence  inspires  the  sacred  song. 

Ten  thousand  throats  the  swelling  theme  prolong. 

Amid  these  happy  groves,  see  Eden  shine. 

Than  Bourbons’  pompous  gardens,  more  divine. 

Fly  the  vile  orchestra,  where  impious  tongues 
Soft  warble  vice  in  loose  lascivious  songs. 

’Tis  here,  ’mid  zephyrs’  mild  and  melting  strains. 

Lost  Paradise  her  pristine  bliss  regains.” 

One  more  quotation  must  suffice.  It  is  taken  from  a long 
description  of  the  Lake  of  Geneva.  After  apostrophizing  the 
divine  Creator,  who  has  “ in  heaven  ” His  dwelling-place,’’ 
Fletcher  proceeds  : — 

Thy  bless’ d serenity,  Thy  palace  fair. 

The  sleeping  waters  of  this  lake  declare. 

To  give  mankind  an  emblem  of  Thy  might. 

An  image  of  Thy  skill  supremely  bright. 

Thy  plastic  hand  drew  the  rough  rocks  around. 

And  scoop’d  the  wondrous  vale,  a gulf  profound  ; 

Where  winding  Rhone  his  active  force  resigns. 

And,  in  wild  fields  of  ice,  resplendent  shines. 

To  shadow  heaven,  and  the  fair  scene  unfold. 

This  lake  with  azure  glows,  and  burnished  gold ; 

What  brilliant  rays,  what  awful  glories  stand. 

To  show  the  wonders  of  Thy  mighty  hand  ! ” 

To  several  of  the  cantos  of  his  poem,  Fletcher  attaches 
lengthened  notes,  in  prose  ; most  of  them  levelled  against 
the  infidelity  of  Voltaire,  Rosseau,  and  the  Unitarians. 

Leaving  the  poem,  ‘‘  La  Grace  et  la  Nature,”  another  of 
Fletcher’s  works  in  Switzerland  must  be  briefly  noticed.  This 
also  was  written  in  the  French  language;  and  after  Fletcher’s 
death  was  translated,  and  published  with  the  following  title : 
“ The  Portrait  of  St.  Paul  ; or,  the  true  Model  for  Christians 
and  Pastors  : translated  from  the  French  Manuscript  of  the 


1776—81.] 


“ The  Portrait  of  St.  PauL'^'* 


455 


late  Rev.  John  William  de  la  Flechere,  Vicar  of  Madeley. 
To  which  is  added,  Some  Account  of  the  Author,  by  the 
Rev.  Joshua  Gilpin,  Vicar  of  Rockwardine,  in  the  County  of 
Salop.  In  two  volumes.  Shrewsbury.  1790.’'  i2mo,  pp. 
377  and  330. 

Mr.  Gilpin  was  an  ardent  admirer  of  Fletcher,  as  his 
biographical  ‘‘  Notes  ” amply  show.  He  had  been  a resident 
in  Fletchers  vicarage,  and  had  enjoyed  the  unspeakable 
benefit  of  his  example,  prayers,  and  instruction.  He  writes: — 

^‘Before  I was  of  sufficient  age  to  take  holy  orders,  I thankfully 
embraced  the  offered  privilege  of  spending  a few  months  beneath  the 
roof  of  this  exemplary  man  ; and  I well  remember  how  solemn  an 
impression  was  made  upon  my  heart  by  the  manner  in  which  he  received 
me.  He  met  me  at  his  door  with  a look  of  inexpressible  benignity  ; 
and,  conducting  me  by  the  hand  into  his  house,  intimated  a desire  of 
leading  me  immediately  into  the  presence  of  that  God  to  whom  the 
government  of  his  little  family  was  ultimately  submitted.  Instantly  he 
fell  upon  his  knees  and  poured  out  an  earnest  prayer  that  my  present 
visit  might  be  rendered  both  advantageous  and  comfortable,  and  that 
our  society  might  be  crowned  by  an  intimate  fellowship  with  Christ. 
This  may  serve  as  a specimen  of  the  manner  in  which  he  was  accustomed 
to  receive  his  guests. 

In  his  social  prayers,  he  paid  but  little  attention  to  those  rules  which 
have  been  laid  down  with  respect  to  the  composition  and  order  of  such 
devotional  exercises.  His  words  flowed  spontaneously,  and  without 
premeditation,  though  always  wonderfully  adapted  to  the  occasion. 
Nothing  impertinent,  artificial,  or  superfluous  appeared  in  his  addresses 
to  the  Deity.  His  prayers  were  the  prayers  of  faith ; always  fervent, 
often  effectual,  and  invariably  a mingled  flow  of  supplication  and  grati- 
tude, humility  and  confidence,  resignation  and  fervour,  adoration  and 
love. 

‘‘Of  his  secret  supplications.  He  alone  can  judge  ‘who  seeth  in 
secret.’  His  closet  was  his  favourite  retirement,  to  which  he  constantly 
retreated  whenever  his  public  duties  allowed  him  a season  of  leisure. 
Here,  in  times  of  uncommon  distress,  he  continued  during  whole  nights 
in  prayer  before  God  ; and  that  part  of  the  wall,  against  which  he  was 
accustomed  to  kneel,  appeared  deeply  stained  with  the  breath  he  had 
spent  in  fervent  worship.” 

In  the  preface  to  his  translation,  Mr.  Gilpin  remarks  : — 

“The  following  work  was  begun,  and  nearly  completed,  in  the  course 
of  Mr.  Fletcher’s  last  residence  at  Nyon  ; where  it  formed  a valuable 
part  of  his  private  labours  during  a long  and  painful  confinement  from 


456 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1776—81. 


public  duty.i  On  his  return  to  England,  he  suffered  the  manuscript  to 
lie  by  him,  intending,  at  his  leisure,  to  translate  and  prepare  it  for  the 
press.  After  his  decease,  Mrs.  Fletcher  discovered  it,  and  the  trans- 
lator, finding  it  a work  of  no  common  importance,  was  readily  induced 
to  render  it  into  English.  The  Portrait  of  St.  Paul  was  originally 
intended  for  publication  in  the  author’s  native  country,  to  which  its 
arguments  and  quotations  apply  with  peculiar  propriety.  It  contains 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  last  and  best  thoughts  upon  some  of  the  most  important 
subjects  that  can  occupy  the  human  mind.” 

Unfortunately,  Fletcher  s Portrait  of  St.  Paul  has,  at 
the  present  day,  but  few  readers.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
century,  it  was  one  of  the  text-books  of  the  Methodist  itine- 
rant preachers  ; and,  even  within  the  last  forty  years,  the 
Methodist  Magazine  spoke  of  it  as  an  admirable  work''  and 
an  “ inestimable  volume."  ^ Methodists,  now-a-days,  too 
often  prefer  ornament  to  truth. 

The  traits  of  St.  Paul  upon  which  Fletcher  descants  are 
the  following  : his  early  piety  ; his  Christian  piety  ; his 
intimate  union  with  Christ  by  faith  ; his  extraordinary 
vocation  to  the  holy  ministry,  and  in  what  that  ministry 
chiefly  consists  ; his  entire  devotion  to  Jesus  Christ  ; his 
strength  and  his  arms  ; his  power  to  bind,  to  loose,  and  to 
bless  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ; the  earnestness  with  which 
he  began  and  continued  to  fill  up  the  duties  of  his  vocation  ; 
the  manner  in  which  he  divided  his  time  between  prayer, 
preaching,  and  thanksgiving ; the  fidelity^  with  which  he 
announced  the  severe  threatenings  and  consolatory  promises 
of  the  Gospel;  his  profound  humility;  the  ingenuous  manner 
in  which  he  acknowledged  and  repaired  his  errors  ; his 
detestation  of  party  spirit  and  divisions  ; his  rejection  of 
praise  ; his  universal  love  ; his  particular  love  to  the  faith- 
ful ; his  love  to  those  whose  faith  was  wavering  ; his  love  to 
his  countrymen  and  his  enemies;  his  love  to  those  whom  he 
knew  only  by  report  ; his  charity  towards  the  poor  ; his 
charity  towards  sinners  ; the  condescension  of  his  humble 
charity  ; his  courage  in  defence  of  truth  ; his  prudence  in 


^ Mrs.  Fletcher  says,  her  husband  told  her  the  manuscript  ‘‘was  a 
rough  draft,  written  in  his  illness  when  abroad,  and  which  he  intended 
to  re-write  and  to  improve.”  (“Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life,”  by  H.  Moore, 
P-  395-) 

^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine^  1845,  p.  74. 


177^— 8 1.] 


1 he  Portrait  of  St.  Paul.^'^ 


457 


frustrating  the  designs  of  his  enemies;  his  tenderness  toward 
others,  and  his  severity  toward  himself ; his  love  never  de- 
generated into  cowardice  ; his  perfect  disinterestedness  ; his 
condescension  in  labouring  with  his  own  hands  ; his  respect 
for  the  holy  estate  of  matrimony  ; the  ardour  of  his  love  ; 
his  generous  fears  and  succeeding  consolation  ; the  grand 
subject  of  his  glorying  ; his  patience  and  fortitude  ; his 
firmness  before  magistrates  ; his  courage  in  consoling  his 
persecuted  brethren  ; his  humble  confidence  in  producing 
the  seals  of  his  ministry  ; his  readiness  to  seal  with  his  blood 
the  truths  of  the  Gospel  ; the  sweet  suspense  of  his  choice 
between  life  and  death  ; the  constancy  of  his  zeal  and 
diligence  to  the  end  of  his  course  ; his  triumphs  over  the 
evils  of  life  and  the  terrors  of  death. 

After  this  follows  ‘‘  The  Portrait  of  Lukewarm  Ministers 
and  False  Apostles  ; ” then  Fletcher  answers  “ Objections  ” 
to  the  “ Portrait  of  St.  Paul  ; ” and  next,  with  consummate 
ability,  states  ‘‘  The  Doctrines  of  an  Evangelical  Pastor  ; ” 
and  concludes  with  “An  Essay  on  the  Connexion  of  Doctrines 
with  Morality,''  in  answer  to  the  infidel  philosophy  of  Voltaire 
and  Rosseau,  recently  deceased.  The  last  two  sections  are 
invaluable,  and  exhibit  Fletcher  in  all  the  strength  of  his 
sanctified  genius. 

To  make  selections  from  so  comprehensive  a work  as  this 
is  difficult,  but  the  following  specimens  may  be  acceptable 
and  useful  : — 

The  faithful  ;pas  tor. — ‘‘The  disposition  of  a faithful  pastor  is,  in 
every  respect,  diametrically  opposed  to  that  of  a worldly  minister.  If 
you  observe  the  conversation  of  an  ecclesiastic  who  is  influenced  by  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  you  will  hear  him  intimating  either  that  he  has,  or 
that  he  would  not  be  sorry  to  have,  the  precedency  among  his  brethren ; 
to  live  in  a state  of  affluence  and  splendour,  and  to  secure  to  himself 
such  distinguished  appointments  as  would  increase  both  his  dignity  and 
his  income,  without  making  any  extraordinary  addition  to  his  pastoral 
labours.  You  will  find  him  anxious  to  be  admitted  into  the  best  com- 
panies, and  occasionally  forming  parties  for  the  chase,  or  some  other 
vain  amusement.  While  the  true  pastor  cries  out,  in  the  self-renouncing 
language  of  the  great  Apostle,  ‘ God  forbid  that  I should  glory,  save  in 
the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  the  world  is  crucified  unto 
me,  and  I unto  the  world.’  Oh  ! ye,  who  preside  over  the  household  of 
God,  learn  of  the  Apostle  Paul  to  manifest  your  real  superiority.  Surpass 
your  inferiors  in  humility,  in  charity,  in  zeal,  in  your  painful  labours  for 


45^  Wesley^ s Desig^iated  Successor,  [1776—81. 


the  salvation  of  sinners,  in  your  invincible  courage  to  encounter  those 
dangers  which  threaten  your  brethren,  and  by  your  unwearied  patience 
in  bearing  those  persecutions  which  the  faithful  disciples  of  Christ  are 
perpetually  called  to  endure  from  a corrupt  world.  Thus  shall  you 
honourably  replace  the  first  Christian  prelates,  and  happily  restore  the 
Church  to  its  primitive  dignity.” 

Writing  sermons,  and  reading  or  delivering  them. — “ He,  who 
spake  as  never  man  spake,  rejected  the  arts  of  our  modern  orators, 
delivering  His  discourses  in  a style  of  easy  simplicity,  and  unaffected 
zeal.  We  do  not  find  that  St.  Paul  and  the  other  Apostles  imposed 
upon  themselves  the  troublesome  servitude  of  penning  down  their  dis- 
courses. And  we  are  well  assured  that,  when  the  Seventy  and  the 
Twelve  were  commissioned  to  publish  the  Gospel,  no  directions  of  this 
nature  were  given  in  either  case.” 

‘‘What  advantage  has  accrued  to  the  Church,  by  renouncing  the 
apostolic  method  of  publishing  the  Gospel  ? We  have  indolence  and 
artifice,  in  the  place  of  sincerity  and  vigilance.  Those  public  discourses, 
which  were  anciently  the  effects  of  conviction  and  zeal,  are  now  become 
the  weakly  exercises  of  learning  and  art.  ‘ We  believe,  and  therefore 
sfeak,^  is  an  expression,  that  has  grown  entirely  obsolete  among  modern 
pastors.  Nothing  is  more  common  among  us  than  to  say,  ‘ As  we  have 
sermons  prepared  upon  a variety  of  subjects,  we  are  ready  to  deliver 
them,  as  opportunity  offers.’ 

“ Many  inconveniences  arise  from  this  method  of  preaching.  While 
the  physician  of  souls  is  labouring  to  compose  a learned  dissertation 
upon  some  plain  passage  of  Scripture,  he  has  but  little  leisure  to  visit 
those  languishing  patients,  who  need  his  immediate  assistance.  He 
thinks  it  sufficient  to  attend  upon  them  every  Sabbath-day,  in  the  place 
appointed  for  public  duty : but  he  recollects  not,  that  those,  to  whom 
his  counsel  is  peculiarly  necessary,  are  the  very  persons  who  refuse  to 
meet  him  there.  His  unprofitable  employments  at  home  leave  him  no 
opportunity  to  go  in  pursuit  of  his  wandering  sheep.  He  meets  them, 
it  is  true,  at  stated  periods,  in  the  common  fold ; but  it  is  equally  true 
that,  during  every  successive  interval,  he  discovers  the  coldest  indiffer- 
ence with  respect  to  their  spiritual  welfare.  From  this  unbecoming 
conduct  of  many  a minister,  one  would  naturally  imagine,  that  the  flock 
were  rather  called  to  seek  out  their  indolent  pastor,  than  that  he  was 
purposely  hired  to  pursue  every  straying  sheep. 

“ Since  the  orator’s  art  has  taken  the  place  of  the  energy  of  faith, 
what  happy  effects  has  it  produced  upon  the  minds  of  men  ? Have  we 
discovered  more  frequent  conversions  among  us  ? Are  formal  professors 
more  generally  seized  with  a religious  fear  ? Do  the  wicked  depart 
from  the  Church,  to  bewail  their  transgressions  in  private  ; and  believers 
to  visit  the  mourners  in  their  affliction  ? Is  it  not  rather  to  be  lamented 
that  we  are,  at  this  day,  equally  distant  from  Christian  charity,  and 
primitive  simplicity  ? 

“ Reading  approved  sermons  is  generally  supposed  to  be  preaching 
the  Gospel.  If  this  were  really  so,  we  need  but  look  out  some  school- 


1776—81.] 


Preaching. 


459 


boy  of  tolerable  capacity  ; and,  after  instructing  him  to  read,  with  proper 
emphasis  and  gesture,  the  sermons  of  Tillotson,  Sherlock,  or  Saurin, 
we  shall  have  made  him  an  excellent  minister  of  the  Word  of  God. 
But,  if  preaching  the  Gospel  is  to  publish  among  sinners  that  repentance 
and  salvation,  which  we  have  experienced  in  ourselves,  it  is  evident  that 
experience  and  sympathy  are  more  necessary  to  the  due  performance  of 
this  work,  than  all  the  accuracy  and  elocution  that  can  possibly  be 
acquired. 

‘‘When  this  sacred  experience  and  this  generous  sympathy  began 
to  lose  their  prevalence  in  the  Church,  their  place  was  gradually  supplied 
by  the  trifling  substitutes  of  study  and  affectation.  Carnal  prudence 
has  now  for  many  ages  solicitously  endeavoured  to  adapt  itself  to  the 
taste  of  the  wise  and  the  learned.  But,  while  ‘ the  offence  of  the  cross  ^ 
is  avoided,  neither  the  wise  nor  the  ignorant  are  effectually  converted. 

“In  consequence  of  the  same  error,  the  ornaments  of  theatrical  elo- 
quence have  been  sought  after,  with  a shameful  solicitude.  And  what 
has  been  the  fruit  of  so  much  useless  toil  ? Preachers^  after  all,  have 
played  their  part  with  much  less  applause  than  comedians ; and  their 
curious  auditories  are  still  running  from  the  pulpit  to  the  stage,  for  the 
purpose  of  hearing  fables  repeated  with  a degree  of  sensibility,  which 
the  messengers  of  truth  can  neither  feel^  nor  feignP 

For  want  of  space,  further  extracts  from  Fletchers  in- 
valuable, but  neglected,  book  cannot  be  given  here.  Those, 
however,  already  presented  deserve  attention.  Though  written 
a hundred  years  ago,  they  are  sadly  appropriate  to  the  state 
of  things  at  the  present  day. 

As  already  stated,  both  ‘‘  La  Grace  et  la  Nature,’'  and  the 

Portrait  of  St.  Paul,”  were  written  in  the  French  language, 
a strong  presumptive  proof  that  he  intended  to  publish  both 
of  them  in  his  native  country.  So  far  as  the  “ Portrait  of 
St.  Paul”  is  concerned,  that  intention  was  not  fulfilled. 


460 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  FIRST  THREE  MONTHS  AFTER  FLETCHER'S 
RETURN  7 0 MADE  LEY. 


'LETCHER  recommenced  his  ministry  at  Madeley  on 


Sunday,  May  27,  1781.^  During  his  absence  of  four 
years  and  a-half,  religion,  in  his  parish,  had  not  prospered. 
In  a letter  to  his  hospitable  friend,  Charles  Greenwood,  at 
Stoke  Newington,  he  wrote  : — 

Madeley,  June  12,  1781.  I stayed  longer  at  Brislington  than  I 
designed.  Mr.  Ireland  was  ill,  and  would  nevertheless  come  hither  with 
me  ; so  that  I was  obliged  to  stay  till  he  was  better.  And,  indeed,  it 
was  well  I did  not  come  without  him  ; for  he  has  helped  me  to  regulate 
my  outward  affairs,  which  were  in  great  confusion.  Mr.  Greaves  leaves 
me ; and  I will  either  leave  Madeley,  or  have  an  assistant  able  to  stir 
among  the  people  : for  I had  much  rather  be  gone  than  stay  here,  to 
see  the  dead  bury  their  dead.  A cloud  is  over  my  poor  parish  ; but, 
alas  ! it  is  not  the  luminous  cloud  by  day,  nor  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night. 
Even  the  few  remaining  professors  stared  at  me  the  other  day,  when  I 
preached  to  them  on  these  words,  ‘ Ye  shall  receive  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
for  the  promise  is  unto  you.*  Well,  the  promise  is  unto  us:  if  others 
despise  it,  still  let  us  believe  and  hope.  Nothing  enlarges  the  heart 
and  awakens  the  soul  more  than  that  believing,  loving  expectation.’*^ 

The  following,  addressed  to  Wesley,  refers  to  the  same 
subject,  and  also  to  other  matters  : — 


Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I rejoice  to  hear  that  your  spiritual  bow 
abides  in  strength.  I would  have  wished  you  joy  about  it  since  my 
arrival,  if  I knew  where  a letter  could  overtake  you.^  I heartily  thank 


1 Methodist  Magazine^  1811,  p.  312. 

^ Fletcher’s  ‘‘Life,”  by  Wesley. 

^ The  veteran  evangelist  was  now  visiting  the  Isle  of  Man,  “east, 


1781. 


( ( 


Madeley,  Juried,  1781. 


Age  SI.]  Fletcher  Applies  to  Wesley  for  a Curate,  461 


you  for  the  directions  you  give  me  to  hinder  my  bow,  so  far  split,  from 
breaking  quite.  Now  I must  imitate  your  prudence,  or  the  opportunity 
of  doing  it  will  soon  be  lost  for  good. 

‘‘I  would  do  something  in  the  Lord’s  vineyard,  but  I have  not  strength. 
I can  hardly,  without  over-doing  myself,  visit  the  sick  of  my  parish.  I 
was  better  when  I left  Switzerland  than  I am  now.  I had  a great  pull 
back,  in  venturing  to  preach  in  the  fields,  in  the  Cevennes,  to  about  two 
thousand  French  Protestants.  I rode  thirty  miles  to  that  place,  from 
Montpelier,  on  horseback,  but  was  obliged  to  be  brought  back  in  a 
carriage.  And  now  that  I am  here,  I can  neither  serve  my  church,  nor 
get  it  properly  served.  Mr.  Greaves  owns,  the  place  is  not  fit  for  him, 
nor  he  for  it.  He  will  go  when  I can  get  somebody  to  help  me.  Could 
you  spare  me  Brother  Bayley  ? ^ It  would  be  a charity.  Unless  I can 
get  a curate  zealous  enough  to  stir  among  the  people,  I will  give  up 
the  place  : it  would  be  little  comfort  to  me  to  stay  here  to  see  the  dead 
bury  the  dead.  I thank  God,  however,  for  resignation  to  His  will.  As 
soon  as  I shall  discern  it  clearly,  I shall  follow  it ; for,  I trust,  I have 
learned  in  what  state  soever  I am,  therewith  to  be  content. 

‘ ‘ What  a blessing  is  Christ  to  the  soul,  and  health  to  the  body ! When 
you  go  to,  or  come  from  the  Conference,  be  so  good  as  to  remember 
that  you  have  now  a pilgrim’s  house  in  the  way  from  Shrewsbury  to 
Broseley;  and  do  not  climb  our  hills  without  baiting.  At  our  first 
interview,  I shall  ask  your  thoughts  about  a French  work  or  two  I have 
upon  the  anvil ; but  which  I fear  I shall  not  have  time  to  finish.  Be 
that  as  it  will,  God  needs  not  the  hand  of  Uzzah,  nor  my  finger,  to  keep 
up  His  ark. 

“I  read,  with  pleasure  and  edification,  yom:  Arminian  Magazine} 
Your  storehouse  is  inexhaustible.  The  Lord  strengthen  you  to  Nestor' s 


south,  north,  and  west,”  and  said,  ''I  was  thoroughly  convinced  that 
we  have  no  such  circuit  as  this,  either  in  England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland.” 
(Wesley’s  Journal.) 

^ The  Rev.  Cornelius  Bayley,  at  this  time  one  of  the  Masters  of 
Wesley’s  School  at  Kingswood.  Cornelius  Bailey  was  born  near  Whit- 
church, in  Shropshire,  about  the  year  1752.  He  was  an  excellent  Hebrew 
scholar,  and  published  a Hebrew  grammar,  which  procured  him  a 
doctor’s  degree  from  a foreign  university.  Afterwards,  when  he  took 
the  same  degree,  D.D.,  at  Cambridge,  he  delivered  a Latin  sermon, 
which  was  much  applauded.  As  will  soon  be  seen,  he  became  Fletcher’s 
curate.  On  leaving  Madeley,  he  went  to  Manchester,  where  he  became 
the  founder  and  the  minister  of  St.  James’s  Church.  This  is  not  the 
place  to  give  a detailed  account  of  this  remarkable  man.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  he  died,  in  Manchester,  on  April  2,  1812,  his  last  words  being, 

O my  Saviour  ! The  Lord  is  with  me  ! ” His  remains  were  interred 
in  a vault  of  his  own  church  ; more  than  forty  clergymen  attended  his 
funeral ; the  church  was  crowded,  and  more  than  a thousand  of  his 
friends  had  to  stand  outside.  The  Rev.  John  Crosse,  afterwards  so 
well-known  in  Bradford,  preached  the  funeral  sermon.  {Christian 
Observer,  1812,  p.  477.) 

2 Wesley  began  to  publish  this  magazine  during  Fletcher’s  absence 
on  the  continent. 


462 


Wes  ley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


years,  or  rather  to  the  useful  length  of  St.  John’s  life  ! It  is  worth  living 
to  serve  the  Church,  and  to  teach  Christians  to  love  one  another. 

am,  rev.  and  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate,  though  unprofitable 
servant, 

''J.  Fletcher.”^ 

Wesley’s  approaching  Conference  was  to  be  held  at  Leeds, 
and  to  Joseph  Benson,  who  had  recently  been  married, 
Fletcher  wrote  as  follows  : — 

I am,  at  present,  without  an  assistant  here,  but  hope  soon  to  have 
Mr.  Bayley,  one  of  the  masters  of  Kingswood  School.  If  he  come, 

I shall  be  at  liberty  to  go  to  Leeds,  and  I hope  God  will  strengthen  me 
for  the  journey.  A godly  wife  is  a peculiar  blessing  from  the  Lord. 
I wish  you  joy  for  such  a loan.  Possess  it  with  godly  fear  and  holy 
joy ; and  the  God  who  gave  her  you  help  you  both  to  see  your  doubled 
piety  take  root  in  the  heart  of  the  child  that  crowns  your  union.  So 
prays,  my  dear  brother,  your  affectionate  friend, 

''J.  Fletcher.” 2 

Meanwhile,  Fletcher  had  begun  a correspondence  with  a 
lady  hitherto  unknown  to  him  ; or  rather  she  had  begun  a 
correspondence  with  him.  Miss  Ann  Loxdale,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Loxdale,  Esq.,  of  Shrewsbury,  was  now  about  twenty- 
six  years  of  age.  Two  years  before  the  date  of  her  letter  to 
Fletcher,  she  had  been  converted.  In  reply  to  her  communi- 
cation, he  said  : — 

'‘Madeley,  May  1781. 

Dear  Madam, — I embrace  the  first  opportunity  of  thanking  my 
unknown  friend  for  her  kind  Christian  letter.  As  I believe  you  are 
sincere,  and  mean  what  your  pen  has  traced  upon  paper,  I may  rejoice 
over  a greater  treasure  than  that  of  the  Indies — I mean,  the  treasure  of 
a Christian  friend ; for  nothing  but  Christianity  could  give  you  courage 
to  express  any  degree  of  friendship  for  so  contemptible  a neighbour. 
I shall  preach  here  next  Sunday,  please  God.  If  you  can,  and  if  you 
are  not  afraid  of  dining  upon  a bit  of  cold  meat,  come  and  dine  with 
I your  new  and  yet  oldfriend,  who,  though  he  cannot  converse  long  with 
his  friends,  on  account  of  his  weakness,  will  find  a quarter  of  an  hour 
to  assure  you,  that,  in  the  faith,  hope,  and  love  of  the  Gospel,  he  is, 
Madam,  your  obliged  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

‘‘J.  Fletcher.”^ 

There  cannot  be  a doubt  respecting  Miss  Loxdale’s  ardent 
piety  ; but  she  was  in  danger  of  falling  into  some  of  the 


^ Arminian  Magazine,  1782,  p.  48. 
^ Benson’s  Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Methodist  Magazine,  1811,  p.  312. 


Age  51.]  Correspondence  with  Miss  Loxdale. 


463 


errors  of  the  mystics.  She  had  written  to  Wesley,  asking 
his  advice  respecting  the  works  of  Madam  Bourignon,  which 
she  had  been  reading.  Wesley,  in  his  reply,  dated  “June  10, 
1781,”  told  her  that  Madam  Bourignon’s  “new  and  peculiar 
expressions  ” were  “ only  shadows,”  not  “ an  excellence,  but 
a capital  defect.”  Wesley  continued, — 

^‘As  I apprehend  your  mind  must  be  a little  confused  by  reading 
those  uncommon  treatises,  I wish  you  would  give  another  deliberate 
reading  to  the  ‘ Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection.’  You  may  be 
assured  there  is  no  religion  under  heaven  higher  or  deeper  than  that 
which  is  there  described.  I desire  nothing,  I will  accept  of  nothing, 
but  the  common  faith  and  common  salvation ; and  I want  you  to  be 
only  just  such  a common  Christian  as  Jenny  Cooper  was.”^ 

Meantime,  Miss  Loxdale  and  Fletcher  had  met  and  con- 
versed with  each  other  ; for,  in  a long  letter  to  her,  dated 
twelve  days  after  Wesley's,  he  gave  her  what  he  considered 
suitable  advice,  and  said,  I never  doubted  your  sincerity, 
my  dear  friend  ; and  can,  without  wavering,  confess  you  a 
member  of  my  Lord^  a child  of  my  heavenly  Father^  and  a 
fellow-heir  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  purchased  for  penitent 
believers."^ 

This  epistolary  and  viva  voce  intercourse  grew  into  a 
sincere  friendship,  but  nothing  more  than  that.  Miss  Lox- 
dale became  one  of  the  most  holy  and  devoted  Methodists 
of  the  last  century;  and,  in  i8ii,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six, 
married  the  Rev.  Dr.  Coke.  A year  afterwards,  she  died 
at  York,  and  was  buried  in  Dr.  Coke's  family  vault  at 
Brecon.'"^ 

Just  at  the  time  when  Fletcher  was  writing  his  letters  to 
Miss  Loxdale,  and  giving  her,  most  sincerely,  the  best 
advice  he  could)  his  heart  was  full  of  Miss  Bosanquet,  and, 
as  will  soon  be  seen,  at  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  June, 
he  proposed  to  marry  her.  The  reply  was  not  unfavourable, 
and  Fletcher  at  once  decided  to  attend  Wesley's  Conference 
at  Leeds,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  which  Miss  Bosanquet 
resided.  The  following  letter,  addressed  to  Wesley,  an- 


* Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  121. 

^ Methodist  Magazine,  1811,  p.  312. 
® Drew’s  “Life  of  Coke,”  p.  346. 


464 


Wesky’s  Designated  Successor, 


[1781. 


nounces  this  decision,  and  refers  to  the  case  of  Miss  Loxdale, 
and  to  an  interesting  incident  in  Switzerland  : — 

‘^Madeley,  ^uue  24,  1781. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — As  to  Miss  Loxdale,  I believe  her  to  be  a 
simple,  holy  follower  of  the  Lord.  Nothing  throws  unscriptural  mys- 
ticism down  like  holding  out  the  promise  of  the  Father,  and  the  fulness 
of  the  Spirit,  to  be  received  now^  by  faith  in  the  two  Promisers,  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  Ah  ! what  is  the  ^enal  fire  of  the  mystics,  to 
the  burning  love  of  the  Spirit,  revealing  the  glorious  power  of  the 
Father  and  the  Son,  according  to  John  xiv.  26,  and  filling  us  with  all 
the  fulness  of  God  ? Plain  Scripture  is  better  than  all  mystic  refine- 
ments. 

‘‘When  I was  at  Nyon,  near  Geneva,  three  ministers  received  the 
Word,  and  preached  the  Truth.  When  persecution  arose  because  of 
the  Word,  the  two  pastors  were  afraid ; but  the  curate  of  the  first 
pastor,  a burgess  of  the  town,  stood  by  me.  This  Timothy  opened  his 
house,  when  the  pastors  shut  both  their  pulpits  and  houses  ; and  I 
heard  him  preach  a discourse  before  I came  away,  worthy  oi you,  Sir, 
upon  the  heights  and  depths  of  holiness.  He  wrote  an  apology  for  me, 
wLich  I sent  to  the  head  of  the  persecuting  Clergy,  and  so  stopped  the 
torrent  of  wrath.  He  made  observations  upon  the  mischief  done  to 
Christianity  by  bad  Clergy,  such  as  George  Fox  and  you.  Sir,  would 
not  disown.  When  I told  him  of  you  and  the  Methodists,  he  expressed 
a great  desire  to  come  to  England,  to  hear  you,  to  see  the  English 
brethren,  and  to  learn  the  English  language,  that  he  might  read  your 
works,  and,  perhaps,  translate  some  of  them.  He  can  have  no  living 
in  his  own  country,  because  he  will  not  swear  to  ;prosecute  all  who 
^ro;pagate  A rminian  tenets ; which  is  more  honest  than  many  of  the 
Clergy,  many  of  whom  are  Arians,  Socinians,  or  Deists,  and  do  not 
scruple  to  take  the  Calvinian  Oaths. 

“I  shall  endeavour  to  wait  upon  you  at  Leeds,  at  the  time  of  the 
Conference : in  the  meantime,  I am.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  your  obedient 
Servant,  and  affectionate  Son  in  the  Gospel. 

“John  Fletcher.'’^ 

Another  of  Fletcher's  letters,  belonging  to  this  period,  is 
too  valuable  to  be  omitted.  His  interview  with  Thomas 
Rankin,  at  Brislington,  has  been  related.  He  now  wrote  to 
Rankin,  as  follows  : — 

“Madeley,  fune  25,  1781. 

“My  Dear  Brother, — I thank  you  for  your  kind  letter  to  me.  I 
found  myself  of  one  heart  with  you,  both  as  a preacher  and  believer, 
before  I left  Bristol,  and  I am  glad  you  find  freedom  to  speak  to  me 
as  your  friend  in  Christ. 


Arminian  Magazine,  1782,  p.  49. 


Age  51.] 


Letter  to  Thomas  Rankin. 


465 


what  you  mention  of  your  experience,  I am  confirmed  in  the 
thought,  I.  That  it  is  often  harder  to  keep  in  the  way  of  faith  and  light 
than  to  get  into  it.  2.  That  speculation  and  reasoning  hinder  us  to  get 
into  that  way,  and  lead  us  out  of  it  when  we  are’  in  it.  3.  The  only 
business  of  those  who  come  to  God,  as  a Redeemer  or  Sanctifier,  must 
be  to  feel  their  'want  of  redemption  and  sanctifying  ^ power  from  on 
high,’  and  to  come  for  it  by  simple,  cordial,  working  faith.  Easily,  the 
heart  gets  into  a false  rest  before  our  last  enemy  is  overcome.  Hence 
arises  a relapsing,  in  an  imperceptible  degree,  into  indolence  and 
carnal  security ; hence  a dreaming  that  we  are  rich  and  increased  in 
goods. 

‘‘This  is  one  of  the  causes  of  the  declension  you  perceive  among 
some  of  the  Methodists.  Another  is  the  outward  rest  they  have. 
Another  may  be  the  judging  of  the  greatness  of  the  work  by  the  num- 
bers in  Society.  Be  the  consequence  what  it  will,  those  who  see  the 
evil  should  honestly  bear  their  testimony  against  it,  first  in  their  own 
souls,  next  by  their  life,  and  thirdly  by  their  plain  and  constant  reproofs 
and  exhortations. 

“The  work  of  justification  seems  stopped,  in  some  degree,  because 
the  glory  and  necessity  of  the  pardon  of  sins,  to  be  received  and  enjoyed 
now  by  faith^  is  not  pressed  enough  upon  sinners ; and  the  need  of 
retaining  it  upon  believers.  The  work  of  sanctification  is  hindered,  if 
I am  not  mistaken,  by  the  same  reason,  and  by  holding  out  the  being 
delivered  from  sin  as  the  mark  to  be  aimed  at,  instead  of  being  rooted 
in  Christ,  and  filled  with  the  fulness  of  God,  and  with  jowcr  from 
on  high.  The  dispensation  of  the  Spirit  is  confounded  with  that  of  the 
Son,  and  the  former  not  being  held  forth  clearly  enough,  formal  and 
lukewarm  believers  in  Jesus  Christ  suppose  they  have  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Hence  the  increase  of  carnal  professors,  see  Acts  viii. 
16.  And  hence  so  few  spiritual  men. 

“Let  us  pray,  hope,  love,  believe  for  ourselves,  and  call  for  the 
display  of  the  Lord’s  arm.  My  love  to  your  dear  fellow-labourer,  Mr. 
Pawson.  Pray  for  your  affectionate  brother, 

“J.  Fletcher.”^ 

The  sentiments  expressed  in  this  valuable  letter  were 
important  a hundred  years  ago  ; and  are  far  more  important 
now.  Methodists,  and  especially  Methodist  Preachers,  ought 
to  lay  them  seriously  to  heart.  Holding  them,  Fletcher 
proceeded  to  the  Methodist  Conference  of  1781,  which 
began  at  Leeds  on  Tuesday,  August  7,  and  concerning  which 
Wesley  writes  as  follows  — 

“1781.  , August  5.  At  the  old  church  in  Leeds,  we  had 

eighteen  clergymen,  and  about  eleven  hundred  communicants.  I 


1 Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.^’ 


30 


466 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


preached  there  at  three ; the  church  was  thoroughly  filled ; and  I be- 
lieve most  could  hear,  while  I explained  the  ‘ new  covenant  ’ which  God 
has  now  made  with  the  Israel  of  God. 

'‘Monday,  6th.  I desired  Mr.  Fletcher,  Dr.  Coke,  and  four  more  of 
our  brethren,  to  meet  every  evening,  that  we  might  consult  together  on 
any  difficulty  that  occurred.  On  Tuesday  our  Conference  began,  at 
which  were  present  about  seventy  preachers,  whom  I had  severally 
invited  to  come  and  assist  me  with  their  advice,  in  carrying  on  the 
great  work  of  God.  Wednesday y 8th.  I desired  Mr.  Fletcher  to 
preach.  I do  not  wonder  he  should  be  so  popular ; not  only  because 
he  preaches  with  all  his  might,  but  because  the  power  of  God  attends 
both  his  preaching  and  prayer.  On  Monday  and  Tuesday  (August 
13  and  14)  we  finished  the  rerr^aining  business  of  the  Conference,  and 
ended  it  with  solemn  prayer  and  thanksgiving.”^ 

Notwithstanding  the  evils  even  then  existing,  and  which 
were  lamented  by  Fletcher  in  the  foregoing  letter,  these  were 
glorious  days,  and  their  conferences  memorable  times  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.”  Mr.  Gorham,  of 
St.  Neots,  was  at  the  Conference  of  1781,  and  wrote  : — 

“ Mr.  Fletcher  preached  at  five  in  the  morning,  from  2 Peter  i.  4. 
Notwithstanding  the  earliness  of  the  hour,  at  least  two  thousand 
persons  were  present,  who  appeared  to  listen  to  him  with  the  deepest 
attention.” 

Joseph  Pescod,  one  of  Wesley’s  itinerant  preachers,  in  a 
letter  to  his  wife,  remarked  : — 

“ I arrived  at  Leeds  on  Saturday  evening  ; and  on  Sunday  morning, 
at  five  o’clock,  I had  the  happiness  to  hear  that  venerable  servant  of 
God,  Mr.  Fletcher.  Never  did  I see  any  man  more  like  what  I suppose 
the  ancient  Apostles  to  have  been.  His  text  was  2 Peter  i.  4:  ‘Whereby 
are  given  unto  us  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises.’  He  spoke 
particularly  of  the  three  great  promises  of  God  to  man.  The  leading 
promise  of  the  Old  Testament,  he  remarked,  was,  ‘The  seed  of  the 
woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent’s  head.’  On  this  promise,  he  observed, 
the  saints  lived  four  thousand  years,  and  were  saved  through  the  Messiah 
to  come.  The  other  two,  he  said,  were  New  Testament  promises. 
First,  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  our  Lord  told  His  disciples 
He  would  send  after  His  ascension.  The  dispensation  of  the  Spirit  is 
to  renew  us  after  the  image  of  God ; which  implies  light,  and  power, 
and  love.  The  third  promise,  on  which  he  dwelt,  was  that  of  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body.  I think  I never  heard  a sermon  to  be  compared 
with  it.  I wish  I could  tell  you  every  word.  I had,  also,  the  happiness 
to  receive  from  his  hand  the  bread  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord’s 


Wesley’s  Journal. 


Age  51.]  Fletcher  the  Guest  of  Miss  Bosanquet.  467 


Supper.  The  ordinance  was  administered  in  the  old  church,  by  Mr. 
Wesley,  Mr.  Fletcher,  and  nine  other  clergymen.  Mr.  Wesley  preached 
in  the  afternoon,  in  the  church,  from  Hebrews  viii.  10-12.”^ 

Wesley’s  Conference  finished  its  business  on  August  14; 
but  Fletcher,  the  happy  guest  of  Miss  Bosanquet,  at  Cross 
Hall,  continued  in  the  neighbourhood  about  three  weeks 
longer,  preaching,”  says  his  delighted  hostess,  in  dif- 
ferent places,  with  much  power.” ^ A record  of  one  of  the 
meetings  that  Fletcher  attended  fortunately  exists,  and  is 
here  given  almost  without  abridgment. 

James  Rogers  was,  at  this  time,  stationed  at  Sheffield  ; 
but,  no  doubt,  both  he  and  his  far-famed  wife,  '‘Hester  Ann,” 
attended  the  Conference  at  Leeds.  After  its  sittings  were 
ended,  she,  like  Fletcher,  still  remained.  On  August  24, 
Fletcher  came  with  Miss  Bosanquet,  and  Mrs.  Crosby,  to 
dine  at  Mr.  Smith’s,  in  Park  Row,  and  to  meet  the  Select 
Society.  Mrs.  Rogers  writes  : — 

When  I entered  the  room,  where  they  were  assembled,  the  heavenly 
man  was' giving  out  the  following  verses,  with  such  animation  as  I have 
seldom  witnessed — 

^ Near  us,  assisting  Jesus,  stand ; 

Give  us  the  op’ning  heavens  to  see ; 

Thee  to  behold  at  God’s  right  hand, 

And  yield  our  parting  souls  to  Thee. 

< My  Father,  O my  Father,  hear. 

And  send  the  fiery  chariot  down  ; 

Let  Israel’s  flaming  steeds  appear, 

And  whirl  us  to  the  starry  crown. 

‘ We,  we  would  die  for  Jesus  too  ; 

Through  tortures,  fires,  and  seas  of  blood. 

All  triumphantly  break  through. 

And  plunge  into  the  depths  of  God.’ 

After  this,  Mr.  Fletcher  poured  out  his  full  soul  in  prayer  to  God. 
Indeed,  his  every  breath  seemed  to  be  prayer,  or  praise,  or  spiritual 
instruction  ; and  every  word  that  fell  from  his  lips  appeared  to  be 
accompanied  by  unction  from  above. 

“After  dinner,  I took  an  opportunity  to  beg  him  to  explain  an  expres- 


IVesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  1829,  p.  528. 
Moore’s  “Life  of  Mrs.  Fletcher,”  p.  141. 


468 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


sion  he  had  used  in  a letter  to  Miss  Loxdale  namely,  that,  on  all  who 
are  renewed  in  love,  God  bestows  the-  gift  of  prophecy.  He  called  for 
the  Bible ; then  read  and  explained  Acts  ii.  ; observing,  that,  to  pro- 
phesy in  the  sense  he  meant,  was,  to  magnify  God  with  the  new  heart 
of  love,  and  the  new  tongue  of  praise,  as  they  did,  who,  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost,  were  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  insisted  that  believers 
now  are  called  upon  to  prove  the  same  baptismal  fire  ; that  the  day  of 
Pentecost  was  the  opening  of  the  dispensation  of  the  Spirit, — the  great 
promise  of  the  Father ; and  that  the  latter  day  glory ^ which  he  believed 
was  near  at  hand,  should  far  exceed  the  first  effusion  of  the  Spirit. 
Seeing  then  that  they,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  bore  witness  to  the  grace 
of  our  Lord,  so  should  we  ; and,  like  them,  spread  the  flame  of  love. 

After  singing  a hymn,  he  cried,  to  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost! 

I want  to  be  filled  I O,  my  friends,  let  us  wrestle  for  a more  abundant 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  1^  To  me,  he  said,  ^ Come,  my  sister,  ^nWS.  you 
covenant  with  me  this  day,  to  pray  for  the  fulness  of  the  Sfirit?  Will 
you  be  a witness  for  Jesus?’  I answered,  with  flowing  tears,  ‘In  the 
strength  of  Jesus  I will.’  He  cried,  ‘ Glory,  glory  be  to  God  I Lord, 
strengthen  Thy  handmaid  to  keep  this  covenant,  even  unto  death  I ’ 

“ He  then  said,  ‘ My  dear  brethren  and  sisters,  God  is  here  ! 1 feel 

Him  in  this  place  ; but  I would  hide  my  face  in  the  dust,  because  I have 
been  ashamed  to  declare  what  He  has  done  for  me.  For  many  years, 
I have  grieved  His  Spirit ; I am  deeply  humbled ; and  He  has  again 
restored  my  soul.’  Last  Wednesday  evening.  He  spoke  to  me  by  these 
words,  ‘ Reckon  yottr selves^  therefore^  to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin  ; but 
alive  unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.'*  I obeyed  the  voice 
of  God  : I now  obey  it ; and  tell  you  all,  to  the  praise  of  His  love, — I 
am  freed  from  sin.  Yes,  I rejoice  to  declare  it,  and  to  be  a witness 
to  the  glory  of  His  grace,  \k\dX  I am  dead  unto  sin,  and  alive  imto 
God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  my  Lord  and  King  I I received 
this  blessing  four  or  five  times  before  ; but  I lost  it,  by  not  observing 
the  order  of  God  ; who  has  told  us.  With  the  heart  man  believeth  unto 
righteousness,  and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation. 
But  the  enemy  offered  his  bait,  under  various  colours,  to  keep  me  from 
a public  declaration  of  what  God  had  wrought.’ 

“ ‘ When  I first  received  this  grace,  Satan  bid  me  wait  awhile,  till  I 
saw  more  of  the  fruits : I resolved  to  do  so  ; but  I soon  began  to  doubt 
of  the  witness,  which,  before,  I had  felt  in  my  heart ; and,  in  a little 
time,  I was  sensible  I had  lost  both.  A second  time,  after  receiving 
this  salvation,  I was  kept  from  being  a witness  for  my  Lord,  by  the 
suggestion,  ‘ Thou  art  a public  character — the  eyes  of  all  are  upon 
thee — and  if,  as  before,  by  any  means  thou  lose  the  blessing,  it  will  be 
a dishonour  to  the  doctrine  of  heart-holiness. ' I held  my  peace,  and 
again  forfeited  the  gift  of  God.  At  another  time,  I was  prevailed  upon 
to  hide  it,  by  reasoning,  ‘ How  few,  even  of  the  children  of  God,  will 


^ The  letter  already  referred  to,  and  dated  June  22,  1781.  See  it  in 
Methodist  Magazine,  i8ii,p.3i2. 


Age  51.] 


Sanctification. 


469 


receive  this  testimony ; many  of  them  supposing  every  transgression  of 
the  Adamic  law  is  sin  ; and,  therefore,  if  I profess  to  \iO,free  from  sin, 
all  these  will  give  my  profession  the  lie  ; because  I am  not  free  in  their 
sense  : I am  not  free  from  ignorance,  mistakes,  and  various  infirmities ; 
I will,  therefore,  enjoy  what  God  has  wrought  in  me ; but  I will  not  say, 
I am  ^e'rfect  in  love,  Alas  ! I soon  found  again.  He  that  hideth  his 
Lord’ s talent,  and  im;proveth  it  not,  from  that  unprofitable  servant 
shall  be  taken  away  even  that  he  hath. 

^ Now,  my  brethren,  you  see  my  folly.  I have  confessed  it  in  your 
presence ; and  now  I resolve  before  you  all  to  confess  my  Master.  I 
will  confess  Him  to  all  the  world.  And  I declare  unto  you,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God,  the  Holy  Trinity,  I am  now  dead  indeed  unto  sin.  I do 
not  say,  lam  crucified  with  Christ,  because  some  of  our  well-meaning 
brethren  say,  hy  this  can  only  be  meant  a gradual  dying;  but  I 
profess  unto  you,  I am  dead  unto  sin,  and  alive  unto  God : and, 
remember,  all  this  is  through  fesus  Christ  our  Lord.  He  is  my 
Prophet,  Priest,  and  King — my  indwelling  Holiness — my  all  in  all.  I 
wait  for  the  fulfilment  of  that  prayer,  lhat  they  all  may  be  one,  as  Thou, 
Father',  art  in  me,  and  I in  Thee,  that  they  also  may  be  07te  in  us  : 
a7id  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one.  O for  that  pure 
baptismal  flame  ! O for  the  fulness  of  the  dispensation  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ! Pray,  pray,  pray  for  this  ! This  shall  make  us  all  of  one  heart, 
and  of  one  soul.  Pray  for  gifts — for  the  gift  of  utterance  ; and  confess 
your  royal  Master.  A man  without  gifts  is  like  a king  in  disguise  : he 
appears  as  a subject  only.  You  are  kings  and  priests  unto  God  I 
Put  on,  therefore,  your  robes,  and  wear  on  your  garter,  holiness  to  the 
Lord.  ’ 

A few  days  after  this,  I heard  Mr.  Fletcher  preach  upon  the  same 
subject ; inviting  all,  who  felt  their  need  of  full  redemption,  to  believe 
now  for  this  great  salvation.  He  observed,  ‘ As  when  you  reckon  with 
your  creditor,  or  with  your  host,  and,  as  when  you  have  paid  all,  you 
reckon  yourselves  free,  so  now  reckon  with  God.  fesus  has  paid  all : 
He  has  paid  for  thee  / — has  purchased  thy  pardon  and  holiness;  there- 
fore, it  is  now  God’s  command.  Reckon  thyself  dead  indeed  unto  sin  ; 
and  thou  art  alive  unto  God  from  this  hour ! O,  begin,  begin  to  reckon 
now  ! Fear  not : believe,  believe,  believe  ! and  continue  to  believe  every 
moment!  So  shalt  thou  continue  free;  for  it  is  retained,  as  it  is 
received,  by  faith  alone.  And,  whosoever  thou  art  that  perseveringly 
believeth,  it  will  be  as  fire  in  thy  bosom,  and  constrain  thee  to  confess 
with  thy  mouth  thy  Lord  and  King,  Jesus.  And,  in  spreading  the 
sacred  flame  of  love,  thou  shalt  be  saved  to  the  uttermost.’ 

“ He  also  dwelt  largely  on  those  words,  ^ Where  sin  abounded,  grace 
did  much  more  abound.’  He  asked,  ^ How  did  sin  abound?  Had  it 
not  overpowered  your  whole  soul  ? Were  not  all  your  passions,  tempers, 
propensities,  and  affections,  inordinate  and  evil  ? Did  not  pride,  anger, 
self-will,  and  unbelief,  all  reign  over  you  ? And,  when  the  Spirit  of 
God  strove  with  you,  did  you  not  repel  all  His  convictions,  and  put  Him 
far  from  you  ? Well,  my  brethren,  ye  were  the7t  the  servants  of  sin, 


470 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


and  were  free  from  righteousness ; but  now,  being  made  free  from  sin, 
ye  become  servants  to  God  ; and  holiness  shall  overspread  your  whole 
soul,  so  that  all  your  tempers  and  passions  shall  be  henceforth  regulated 
and  governed  by  Him  who  now  sitteth  upon  the  throne  of  your  heart, 
making  all  things  new.  As  you  once  resisted  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  now 
you  shall  have  power  to  resist  all  the  subtle  frauds  or  tierce  attacks  of 
Satan.’ 

^‘Mr.  Fletcher  then,  with  lifted  hands,  cried,  ‘Who  will  thus  be 
saved  ? Who  will  believe  the  report  ? You  are  only  in  an  improper 
sense  called  believers  who  reject  this.  Who  is  a believer?  One  who 
believes  a few  things  which  his  God  has  spoken  ? Nay,  but  one  who 
believes  all  that  ever  proceeded  out  of  His  mouth.  Here  then  is  the 
word  of  the  Lord  : As  sin  abounded^  grace  shall  much  more  abound  I 
As  no  good  thing  was  in  you  by  nature,  so  now  no  evil  thmg  shall 
remain.  Do  you  believe  this  ? Or  are  you  a believer  only  ? Come ! 
Jesus  is  offered  to  thee  as  ^perfect  Saviour.  Take  Him,  and  He  will 
make  thee  perfect  saint.  O ye  believers,  will  you  still  plead  for 
the  murderers  of  your  Lord  ? Which  of  these  will  you  hide  as  a serpent 
in  your  bosom  ? Shall  it  be  anger,  pride,  self-will,  or  accursed  unbelief  ? 
O be  no  longer  befooled  ! Bring  these  enemies  to  thy  Lord,  and  let 
Him  slay  them.’  ” ^ 

Mrs.  Rogers  was  not  a shorthand  writer.  She  wrote  from 
memory ; and  though  what  she  relates  in  the  foregoing 
extracts  is,  no  doubt,  substantially  correct,  yet  Fletcher 
must  not  be  held  accountable  for  every  word  she  uses.  The 
narrative,  however,  is  very  valuable,  because  it  exhibits 
Fletcher  at  a most  important  epoch  of  his  life,  and  exhibits 
him  in  his  free-and-easy  religious  dishabille  among  his 
friends.  Wesley  says  : — 

“ There  is  a peculiar  difficulty  in  giving  a full  account  of  either  the 
life  or  character  of  Mr.  Fletcher,  because  we  have  scarce  any  light  from 
himself.  He  was  upon  all  occasions  very  uncommonly  reserved  in  speak- 
ing of  himself,  whether  in  writing  or  conversation.  He  hardly  ever 
said  anything  concerning  himself,  unless  it  slipped  from  him  unawares. 
And,  among  the  great  number  of  papers  which  he  has  left,  there  is 
scarce  a page  (except  the  account  of  his  conversion  to  God),  relative 
either  to  his  own  inward  experience,  or  the  transactions  of  his  life.  So 
that  the  most  of  the  information  we  have  is  gathered  up,  either  from  short 
hints  scattered  up  and  down  in  his  letters,  from  what  he  had  occasionally 
dropped  among  his  friends,  or  frorn  what  one  and  another  remembered 
concerning  him. 

“This  defect  was  indeed,  in  some  measure,  supplied  by  the  entire 


^ Dr.  Coke’s  funeral  sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  H.  A.  Rogers,  179c;  ; 
and  “ Experience  and  Letters  of  Mrs.  Hester  Ann  Rogers.” 


Age  51.] 


Fletcher  visits  Sheffield. 


471 


intimacy  which  subsisted  between  him  and  Mrs.  Fletcher.  He  did  not 
willingly,  much  less  designedly,  conceal  anything  from  her.  They  had 
no  secrets  with  regard  to  each  other,  but  had  indeed  one  house,  one 
purse,  and  one  heart.  Before  her,  it  was  his  invariable  rule  to  think 
aloicd ; always  to  open  the  window  in  his  breast.  And  to  this  we  are 
indebted  for  the  knowledge  of  many  particulars  which  must  otherwise 
have  been  buried  in  oblivion.’’  ^ 

No  doubt  this  statement  is  perfectly  accurate.  Fletcher, 
like  Wesley  himself,  was  never  a talkative  religious  pro- 
fessor ; and  the  outpourings  of  his  heart,  related  by  Hester 
Ann  Rogers,  may  be  regarded  as  exceptional. 

Nothing  more  need  be  added  to  the  present  chapter 
except  the  incident  that,  both  in  going  to  Leeds  and  returning 
to  Madeley,  Fletcher  preached  at  Sheffield,  where  the  husband 
of  Hester  Ann  Rogers  was  at  that  time  Wesley’s  “ Assistant.” 
He  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Thomas  Holy.  The  following  is 
taken  from  an  unpublished  memoir  of  Mr.  Holy,  written  by 
the  late  Rev.  James  Everett  : — 

‘‘The  sainted  Fletcher  was  twice  an  inmate  of  Mr.  Holy’s  house. 
This  extraordinary  man  preached  twice  in  Norfolk  Street  chapel,  on 
going  to  and  returning  from  the  Conference  at  Leeds,  in  1781.  One  of 
of  his  texts  was,  ‘ The  kingdom  of  God  is  within  you  ; ’ and  the  other, 
‘ Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation.’ 
On  both  occasions,  the  chapel  was  crowded,  and  several  clergymen 
were  present.  When  he  was  introduced  to  Mr.  Holy,  his  salutation 
was,  ‘ Peace  be  to  thee,  my  brother  ; ’ and,  on  crossing  Mr.  Holy’s 
threshold,  he  said,  ‘ Peace  be  to  this  house.’  Mrs.  Brammah,  the 
widow  of  an  old  itinerant  preacher,  and  one  of  Mr.  Holy’s  pensioners, 
was  present,  and  observed  that  Mr.  Fletcher  frequently  repeated  the 
latter  text,  as  if  desirous  to  impress  the  company  with  its  importance 
and  its  blessedness.  ‘ Mr.  Fletcher’s  conversation,’  remarked  Mr. 
Holy,  ‘ was  always  instructive  and  impressive  ; and  I felt  while  I was 
with  him  as  if  I were  in  the  presence  of  a superior  being.’  During  his 
stay  in  Sheffield,  Mr.  Fletcher  bathed  every  morning  in  a river,  about 
half  a mile  distant  from  Mr.  Holy’s  residence.  His  host  always  accom- 
panied him,  and  was  much  struck  with  his  excellent  swimming.” 

This  is  a trivial  matter,  but  trifles  concerning  mighty 
men,  men  of  renown,”  are  worth  preserving. 

A journey  from  Madeley  to  Leeds,  a hundred  years  ago, 
was  a somewhat  serious  affair.  In  an  unpublished  letter. 


Wesley’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher.” 


472 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


addressed  to  Mr.  Ireland,  Fletcher  tells  his  friend  that  the 
journey  occupied  two  days  and  a half,  and  that  his  new 
saddle  was  so  hard  that,  to  save  himself  from  suffering,  he 
was  obliged  to  put  the  hair-skins,  used  for  the  protection  of 
his  chest,  into  his  ‘‘  breeches.”  In  the  same  letter,  he  gives 
an  account  of  the  suicide  of  his  “ atheistical  nephew  ; ” and 
concludes  as  follows  : — 

If  Mr.  Romaine  be  still  with  you,  please  to  remember  me  in  much 
love  to  him.  I went  yesterday  to  Salop,  saw  Mr.  De  Courcy,^  and 
invited  Mr.  Rowland  Hill  to  preach  here  to  cement  love.’' 


1 At  that  time  the  incumbent  of  the  parish  of  St.  Alkmond,  Shrews- 
bury. (‘'  Life  of  Rev.  R.  Hill,”  by  Sidney,  p.  137.) 


Age  51.] 


Letters  to  Ladies, 


473 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FLETCHER! S MARRIAGE. 

1781. 

LETCHER  spent  a happy  month  among  the  ‘‘elect'’ 


ladies  of  Methodism  in  the  North  of  England  ; to  wit, 
Miss  Bosanquet,  Hester  Ann  Rogers,  Sarah  Crosby,  and  their 
friends  ; and,  on  his  return  to  Madeley,  he  had  to  correspond 
with  two  others  in  the  south.  Miss  Perronet  and  Lady  Mary 
Fitzgerald.  To  the  former  he  wrote  as  follows  : — 


My  Dear  Friend, — You  want  ‘ some  thoughts  on  the  love  of  God;  ’ 
and  I want  the  warmest  feelings  of  it.  Let  us  believe  His  creating, 
feel  His  preserving,  admire  His  redeeming,  and  triumph  in  His  sanctify- 
ing love.  Loving  is  the  best  way  to  grow  in  love.  Let  us  then  look  at 
the  love  of  our  heavenly  Father,  shining  in  the  face  of  our  elder  Brother, 
and  we  shall  be  changed  into  love — His  image  and  nature — from  one 
glorious  diXidi  glorifymg  degree  of  love  to  another.  Love  always  delights 
in  the  object  loved.  ' Delight  thou  in  the  Lord,’  then,  and  'thou  shalt 
have  thy  heart’s  desire;  ’ for  we  can  desire  nothing  more  than  the 
su^pr erne  good  o.x\d  mfinile  bliss;  both  are  in  God.  When,  therefore, 
we  love  God  truly,  we  delight  in  what  He  is  ; we  share  in  His  infinite 
happiness  ; and,  by  divine  sympathy,  His  throne  of  glory  becomes  ours; 
for  true  love  rejoices  in  all  the  joy  of  the  object  to  which  it  cleaves. 

" Add  to  this,  that  when  we  love  God  we  have  always  our  hearts’ 
desire  ; for  we  love  His  will,  His  desires  become  ours,  and  ours  are 
always  perfectly  resigned  to  His.  Now  as  God  does  whatsoever  He 
pleases,  both  in  heaven  and  earth,  His  lovers  have  always  their  hearts’ 
desire,  forasmuch  as  they  alw'ays  have  His  will,  which  is  theirs.  Sub- 
mitting our  private  will  to  His  is  only  preferring  a greater  good  to  a 
less,  and  we  are  called  to  do  it  in  afflictions. 

" Farewell,  my  dear  friend,  and  excuse  these  reflections,  which  you 
could  make  much  better  than  your  humble  servant. 


"Madeley,  September  1781. 


"J.  Fletcher.”  ‘ 


Letters,  1791,  p.  277. 


474 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


An  excellent  love-letter,  from  one  who  was  now  the 
declared  lover  of  Mary  Bosanquet. 

Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald  wished  to  visit  Fletcher  at  Madeley, 
and  to  her  he  wrote  the  following  : — 

''Madeley,  September  2^,  1781. 

" My  Much-honoured  Lady, — Two  days  ago  I came  here,  after 
an  absence  of  above  a month  ; and  yesterday  I received  your  letter, 
without  date,  which  has  been,  I am  told,  waiting  here  some  time. 

" What  a pity  I did  not  rejoice  sooner  in  the  good  news  you  send  me, 
— that  you  desire  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  God.  Indeed,  complaints 
follow  ; but  heaven  is  in  that  holy  desire.  If  you  cultivate  it,  it  will 
produce  all  that  conformity  to  a holy  God,  which  love  can  bring  to  a 
human  soul.  As  for  your  complaints,  they  are  the  natural  expressions 
of  that  repentance  which  precedes  the  coming  of  the  Comforter,  who  is 
to  abide  with  us  for  ever.  I am  ready  to  rejoice,  or  to  mourn  with  my 
honoured  friend ; and  I have  abundant  cause  to  do  both  with  respect  to 
myself,  my  ministrations,  the  Church,  and  my  people. 

"And  will  you,  indeed,  find  it  in  your  heart  to  honour  my  house  with 
your  presence,  and  perfume  also  with  your  prayers  the  plain  apartment 
occupied  by  your  friend  Johnson  ? ^ I wonder  at  nothing  on  earth,  when 
I consider  the  condescension  with  which  Emmanuel  came  down  from 
heaven  and  filled  a stable  with  His  glory.  Your  time,  my  condescend- 
ing friend,  will  suit  me  best.  You  will  be  queen  in  my  hermitage  ; the 
Lord  will  rule  in  our  hearts  ; and  you  will  command,  under  Him,  within 
our  walls.  You  smile,  perhaps,  at  the  vastness  of  your  new  empire  ; 
but  if  you  can  be  content  and  happy  in  God  in  my  homely  solitude,  you 
will  make  greater  advances  towards  bliss  than  if  you  obtained  the  Prin- 
cipality of  Wales.  But  if  you  cannot  be  happy  with  Jesus,  prayer, 
praise,  godly  conversation,  and  retirement,  expect  a disappointment. 
However,  my  honoured  friend,  if  you  come,  come  as  the  serious  Catholics 
go  on  a pilgrimage,  as  French  noblemen  go  to  the  Carthusian  Convent 
at  La  Trappe,  as  the  French  king’s  aunts  went  to  the  Carmelites, — 
come  and  do  evangelical  ^penance.  Our  good  friend  Johnson  will  tell 
you  of  an  upper  room  where  we  crucify  our  old  man,  and  have  had  many 
a visit  from  the  new.  If  you  do  not  bring  her  with  you,  bring  her  faith, 
which  brought  Him  down,  and  then  you  shall  not  pine  for  the  company 
of  earthly  princes.  The  Prince  of  Peace  Himself  will  keep  His  court  in 
our  cottage,  and  your  heart  shall  be  one  of  His  favourite  thrones.” 

From  these  Christian  ladies,  the  reader’s  attention  must 
now  be  directed  to  another. 

^ Probably  Ann  Johnson,  who  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Society 
in  London  sixty  years  ; a class-leader,  thirty-seven  ; who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty  in  1828,  and  whose  remains  were  interred  in  the  burial- 
ground  of  City  Road  Chapel.  See  Stevenson’s  "City  Road  Chapel,” 
p.  458. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  276. 


Age  51.] 


Afzss  Bosanquet. 


475 


Mary  Bosanquet,  oddly  enough,  was  born  in  the  same 
month,  and  on  the  same  day  of  the  month,  as  Fletcher  ; but 
there  was  this  difference — she  was  ten  years  younger  than  he. 
Her  birth  took  place  in  1739,  the  year  in  which  Methodism 
was  cradled.  Her  father  was  '‘one  of  the  chief  merchants  in 
London,'’^  and  “lord  of  the  manor  of  Leytonstone,  in  Essex.’' ^ 
The  place  of  her  nativity  was  Forest  House,  a fine  old  mansion, 
three  stories  high,  still  standing  in  its  own  beautiful  and 
spacious  grounds,  about  a mile  from  Leyton,  and  still  owned 
by  a member  of  the  Bosanquet  family  (S.  R.  Bosanquet,  Esq.), 
who  has  recently  given  a plot  of  ground  in  the  main  street 
of  the  town  on  which  to  build  the  “ Mary  Fletcher  Memorial 
Chapel.” 

By  means  of  a Methodist  servant,  Mary  Bosanquet  found 
peace  with  God,  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  when  she  was 
only  eight  years  old.  At  the  age  of  thirteen,  she  became 
acquainted  with  Mrs.  Lefevre,  whose  admirable  “ Letters  on 
Religious  Subjects  ” used  to  be  one  of  the  favourite  books 
of  the  early  Methodists  ; and  concerning  which  Wesley  him- 
self testified  : “ The  ‘ Letters  ’ are  patterns  of  truly  polite 
epistolary  correspondence;  expressing  the  noblest  sentiments 
in  the  most  elegant  manner,  in  the  purest,  yea,  and  finest 
language.”  ^ At  the  house  of  Mrs.  Lefevre,  Miss  Bosanquet 
was  introduced  to  a number  of  godly  people,  many  of  them 
Methodists.  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  she  was  confirmed 
in  St.  Paul’s  Cathedral,  and  began  to  receive  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord’s  Supper. 

Soon  after  this,  her  father  and  mother  thought  her 
“ righteous  over  much,”  and  great  uneasiness,  on  both  sides, 
followed.  The  parents  were  members  of  the  Church  of 
England  ; but,  like  many  other  professedly  Christian  people, 
they  loved  gaiety  and  worldly  pleasure.  Their  daughter 
grieved  them,  because  she  attired  herself  plainly,  and  objected 
to  go  to  balls  and  theatres.  In  the  midst  of  this  unpleasant- 
ness, she  became  acquainted  with  Sarah  Ryan  and  Sarah 
Crosby,  and,  at  their  humble  dwelling,  in  Christopher  Alley, 


^ “ Life  of  Rev.  H.  Venn,”  p.  376. 

^ Sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Fletcher,”  by  John  Hodson,  p.  47. 
^ Preface  to  the  Letters. 


476 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


Moorfields,  was  accustomed  to  meet  companies  of  the  Old 
Foundery  Methodists.  Meanwhile,  the  unhappiness  at  home 
increased. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  Miss  Bosanquet  came  into 
possession  of  a small  fortune  and,  for  her  own  comfort 
and  that  of  her  family,  she  left  the  parental  home,  and  rented 
two  unfurnished  rooms  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Gold,  in  Hoxton 
Square.  She  “hired  a sober  girl  her  mother  gave  her  two 
beds  ; and  she  was  driven  to  her  lodgings  in  her  father’s 
coach.  She  reached  her  new  home  about  eight  o’clock  at 
night.  She  had  no  candle.  The  people  of  the  house  she 
had  never  seen.  She  borrowed  a table  ; and  the  window 
seat  served  her  as  a chair.  Her  supper  consisted  of  bread, 
“rank  salt  butter,  and  water  but  she  says,  she  “could  truly 
say,  ‘ / eat  my  meat  zvith  gladness  and  singleness  of  heaidl 
The  bedstead  was  not,  as  yet,  put  up,  and,  therefore,  she 
laid  upon  the  floor  ; “ and  the  windows”  of  the  bedless  bed- 
room “ having  no  shutters,  and  it  being  a bright  moonlight 
night,”  she  remarks,  “ the  sweet  solemnity  thereof  well  agreed 
with  the  tranquillity  of  my  spirit. 

Her  “maid  was  dull  and  ignorant,  though  good;”  and 
she  herself  “ knew  little  more  of  the  world  than”  did  her 
maid,  “ having  been  used  to  so  different  a way  of  life.” 
Just  at  this  juncture,  ill-health  obliged  Sarah  Ryan  to  leave 
Wesley’s  meeting-house  in  Bristol,  and  to  return  to  London, 
where  she  lodged  with  her  sister.  Here  her  illness  became 
serious  ; and  Miss  Bosanquet  served,  as  her  nurse,  “night  and 
day.”  “After  a time,”  writes  Miss  Bosanquet,  “the  Lord  was 
pleased  to  restore  her  to  health  ; and,  having  one  heart,  one 
mind,  and  one  purse,  we  agreed  that  one  habitation  also 
would  be  most  profitable  and,  accordingly,  the  two  now 
resided  together  at  Hoxton. 

On  March  24,  1763,  Miss  Bosanquet  and  Sarah  Ryan 
removed  from  Hoxton  to  Leytonstone,  and  occupied  a 
house  belonging  to  the  former.  Miss  Bosanquet  told  her 
father  that  she  intended  to  have  Methodist  preaching  in  her 
house  ; her  father  made  no  objection,  but  remarked,  “ If  a 
mob  should  pull  your  house  about  your  ears,  I cannot  hinder 
them.”  She  and  Sarah  Ryan  began  to  hold  meetings,  on 
Thursday  nights,  at  which  they  “ read  a chapter,  and  some- 


Age  51.]  Afiss  Bosariquefs  Orphanage  at  Ley  tomtom.  477 


times  spoke  from  it/'  They  also  gathered  a Methodist  class, 
of  twenty-five  members  ; and,  in  due  time,  Wesley  sent  his 
Itinerant,  John  Murlin,  to  preach  to  them.  Thus  began 
Methodism  at  Leytonstone.  “ Sometimes  on  Sundays, 
when  the  nights  were  dark,  a mob  would  collect  at  the  gate" 
of  Miss  Bosanquet’s  domestic  cathedral,  ‘‘  and  throw  dirt  at 
the  people  as  they  went  out ; after  which,  they  used  to  come 
into  the  yard,  and,  putting  their  faces  to  a window,  which 
was  without  shutters,  would  roar  and  howl  like  wild  beasts." 

At  the  first,  Miss  Bosanquet's  family  at  Leytonstone 
consisted  of  herself,  her  maid,  Sarah  Ryan,  and  Sally 
Lawrence,^  a child  about  four  years  old,  whom"  she  had 
“ taken  from  the  side  of  her  mother  s coffin."  In  a little 
while,  five  other  orphans  were  admitted  ; and  it  became 
necessary  to  employ  Ann  Tripp ^ to  serve  as  their  governess. 
Miss  Bosanquet  writes  : Some  serious  women  also  were 

added  to  our  household,  and  each  had  their  duties  and 
employments  assigned  them.  In  the  whole,  we  received 
thirty-five  children,  and  thirty-four  grown  persons,  but  not 
all  at  one  time."  Thus  did  Miss  Bosanquet  turn  her  dwelling 
into  a chapel,  an  orphanage,  and  a poor-house.  All  in  the 
house,  herself  included,  wore  the  same  kind  of  dress,  made 
of  ‘‘a  dark  purple  cotton  ;"  and  all  dined  at  the  same  table, 
which  was  “ five  yards  long,"  and  stood  in  the  hall.  Here 
also  they  all  assembled  for  morning  and  evening  devotion, 
and  on  several  other  occasions." 

Miss  Bosanquet  soon  found  that  her  family  was  larger 
than  her  income  could  maintain  ; but  even  this  did  not 
discourage  her,  as  she  was  at  perfect  liberty  to  spend  her 
capital. 

Most  of  the  children  when  admitted  to  her  house  were 
naked,  full  of  vermin,  and  some  of  them  were  afflicted  with 


^ Sarah  Lawrence  was  the  niece  of  Sarah  Ryan.  She  lived  with  her 
benefactress  until  her  death,  wLich  occurred  at  Madeley,  on  December  3, 
1800.  Like  Mrs.  Fletcher,  for  several  years,  she  was  a g)reacheress, 
and  very  useful. 

2 Ann  Tripp  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Wesley  and  Thomas 
Maxfield.  After  the  marriage  of  Miss  Bosanquet  and  her  removal  to 
Madeley,  she  settled  at  Leeds,  and,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  in  1823, 
was  one  of  the  oldest  leaders  of  the  Leeds  Society.  ( Wesleyan  Metho- 
dist Magazine  ^ 1823,  p.  706.) 


478 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1781- 


disagreeable  distempers.  The  first  thing  was  to  clean  and 
clothe  them,  and  attend  to  their  health  ; which  usually  was 
followed  with  much  success.” 

The  eldest  of  the  children  arose  between  four  and  five  ; the  younger 
not  much  later.  At  half-an-hour  after  six,”  says  Miss  Bosanquet,  ‘‘we 
had  family  prayer ; at  seven,  we  breakfasted  together  on  herb  tea,  or 
milk  porridge.  The  small  children  then  went  into  the  garden  till  eight. 
At  eight,  the  bell  rang  for  school,  which  continued  till  twelve.  Then, 
after  a few  minutes  spent  in  prayer,  the  children  came  down  to  us,  when 
we  either  walked  out  with  them,  or,  if  the  weather  did  not  permit,  we 
found  them  some  employment  in  the  house,  endeavouring,  at  the  same 
time,  to  give  them  both  instruction  and  recreation.  At  one,  we  dined ; 
about  two,  the  bell  rang  again  for  school ; and,  at  five,  they  returned 
to  us,  and  were  employed  as  before  till  supper  time.  Then,  after  family 
prayer,  they  were  washed,  and  were  put  to  bed  at  eight.  Four  or  five 
of  the  bigger  girls  were  each  week  kept  out  of  the  school,  by  turns,  and 
employed  in  house-work,  cooking,  etc.,  that  they  might  be  accustomed 
to  every  sort  of  business ; and  there  was  work  enough  in  so  large  a 
family.  Several  of  the  children  were  very  young,  though  I do  not 
remember  we  had  any  under  two  years,  except  one  of  about  a month 
old,  which  was  laid,  very  neatly  dressed,  one  night  late  at  our  door ; 
but  it  lived  only  a fortnight,  being  full  of  humours,  probably  derived 
from  its  parents. 

“We  had,  I think,  never  more  than  ten  grown  persons  in  the  family 
at  one  time,  who  were  not  invalids ; nor  do  I remember  above  five  or 
six  altogether  in  health.  The  children  also,  for  the  first  few  years,  sulfered 
under  various  disorders  ; for  we  did  not  refuse  either  old  or  young,  on 
account  of  their  being  sick  or  helpless.” 

Miss  Bosanquet,  as  might  be  expected,  was  soon  involved 
in  pecuniary  embarrassments.  Just  about  this  period,  a young 
lady  of  fortune.  Miss  Lewen,  came  to  board  and  lodge  with 
her,  and  also  brought  two  children  of  whom  she  had  taken 
charge.  After  residing  about  half  a year  in  this  unique 
retreat  at  Leytonstone, — chapel,  orphanage,  school,  poor- 
house,  and  infirmary  all  combined  in  one, — Miss  Lewen 
wished  to  make  a new  will,  and  to  bequeath  her  hostess  “ a 
large  sum  of  money.”  Miss  Bosanquet  objected,  because 
Miss  Lewen  had  already  left  the  bulk  of  her  estate  (which 
was  large)  to  charitable  uses.”  In  1766,  Miss  Lewen  became 
suddenly  very  ill;  and,  one  night,  while  some  of  the  inmates 
of  the  house  were  watching  at  her  side,  she  cried,  Give  me 
pen  and  paper  ; I cannot  die  easy,  unless  I write  something 
of  my  mind  concerning  Sister  Bosanquet  having  £2,000, 


Age  51.]  Jlfiss  Bosanquef  s Fortmie  and  her  Debts,  479 


Pen  and  paper  were  supplied,  and  the  writing  was  written  ; 
but,  of  course,  it  was  illegal  and  worthless.  Miss  Lewen 
died  ; but  Miss  Bosanquet,  instead  of  receiving  the  £2,000^ 
which  Miss  Lewen  wished  her  to  have,  received  not  a farthing, 
and  was  considerably  out  of  pocket  on  her  dead  friend’s 
account. 

About  the  beginning  of  1765,  Miss  Bosanquet’s  father 
died  ; and  nine  months  afterwards  her  mother.  By  his  will, 
her  father  bequeathed  her  £4,S00y  to  be  invested  by  her 
trustees  for  her  benefit ; and,  when  she  married  with  their 
approval  and  consent,  this  amount  of  money  was  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  herself,  and  to  be  absolutely  at  her  own  disposal.^ 
From  a letter,  written  by  S.  Bosanquet,  Esq.,  and  dated 
‘‘Forest  House,  October  15,  1781,”  it  appears  that  Miss 
Bosanquet  had  altogether  a fortune  of  not  less  than  ;^^io,500, 
— a large  sum,  when  it  is  remembered  that  money  then  was 
about  three  or  four  times  the  value  of  money  now.  Mr. 
Bosanquet’s  letter  was  addressed  to  his  sister,  and  in  it  he 
says  : — 

£ 

You  had  Leytonstone  estate,  valued  at  ....  3,000 

You  had  from  my  grandmother  ......  2,500 

You  had  the  savings  of  Leyton  estate  till  you  came  of  age  . 500 

You  had  by  my  father’s  will 4,500 

^io,50o”a 


With  the  exception  of  her  father’s  bequest,  the  whole  of 
this  money  was  at  her  own  disposal,  and,  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage,  was  entirely  spent,  not  on  herself,  but  solely  on 
behalf  of  others.  Added  to  this,  she  was  also,  to  a serious 
amount,  in  debt ; but  more  of  this  anon. 

About  three  years  after  the  death  of  Miss  Bosanquet’s 
father,  Richard  Taylor,  a good  and  well-meaning  man,  “ left 
his  wife  and  young  family”  in  Yorkshire,  “and  came  to  London 
in  hope  of  settling  with  his  creditors.”  Sarah  Crosby,  who 
was  now  resident  in  Miss  Bosanquet’s  house,  and  John  Murlin, 
one  of  the  itinerant  preachers  stationed  in  the  London  Circuit, 


* “ Probate  of  Mr.  Bosanquet’s  Will.” 
2 Unpublished  letter. 


48o 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


recommended  Taylor,  the  improvident  debtor,  to  Miss  Bosan- 
quet’s  notice,  and,  for  some  time,  he  also  became  a member 
of  her  motley  household.  This  unfortunate  event  created  a 
world  of  trouble.  By  her  father’s  bequest.  Miss  Bosanquet’s 
income  was  increased  ; but  her  income  was  not  equal  to 
her  expenses.  Added  to  this,  Sarah  Ryan’s  health  entirely 
failed ; and,  partly  on  her  account,  and  also  for  other  reasons, 
Miss  Bosanquet  entertained  the  thought  of  removing  her 
family  to  Yorkshire.  Accordingly,  on  June  7,  1768,  she 
and  her  two  friends,  Sarah  Ryan  and  Sarah  Crosby,  set  out, 
in  a chaise,  on  this  long  and  tiresome  journey,  Richard  Taylor 
accompanying  them  on  horseback.  For  seven  weeks,  they 
lived  in  the  house  of  Taylor’s  father-in-law,  when  they  pro- 
cured a house  for  themselves  at  Gildersome,  a village  in  the 
parish  ofBatley,  and  about  four  miles  and  a half  from  Leeds. 
At  the  same  time  (on  August  17,  1768),  Sarah  Ryan  died  ; 
and  this  event  augmented  Miss  Bosanquet’s  anxieties,  and 
affected  her  health.  She  writes  : — 

‘‘  My  health  began  to  fail.  For  three  years,  I had  had  much  fatigue 
in  nursing  my  dear  friend.  I grew  large,  and  had  dropsical  symptoms. 
My  soul,  also,  was  in  a low  and  cold  state.  My  path  was  strewed  with 
many  perplexities.  My  family  consisted  of  thirty  persons,  some  of  whom 
were  rather  unruly.  I saw  the  need  of  taking  the  reins  into  my  own 
hands,  and  supplying  the  place  of  my  friend  Ryan.  But  this  deter- 
mination was  very  difficult  to  execute ; and  I daily  and  hourly  felt  my 
insufficiency.  While  she  was  alive,  I considered  her  as  a mother,  and 
desired  her  to  allot  me  my  employments,  as  she  did  in  the  case  of  the 
young  women.  These  were,  i.  An  attention  to  the  spiritual  affairs  of 
the  family.  2.  Taking  care  for  their  sustei\ance.  3.  Instructing  the 
children.  4.  Meeting  each  member  of  the  family,  one  by  one,  at  fixed 
times.  5.  Superintending,  by  turns,  the  more  public  meetings  of  the 
Society.  6.  Attending  my  friend  in  her  frequent  illnesses ; with  the 
direction  -and  management  of  the  sick.  But  the  care  of  the  kitchen, 
buying  stores,  managing  the  needlework,  and  many  other  things  be- 
longing to  housekeeping,  I was  quite  unaccustomed  to.  While  I lived 
in  my  father’s  house,  I saw  very  little  of  domestic  affairs,  because  we 
lived  rather  high. 

Beside,  the  manner  of  life  in  Yorkshire  was  entirely  different  from 
what  I had  been  used  to  about  London.  Here  wheat  was  to  be  bought 
to  be  made  into  flour ; bread  to  be  made ; cows  to  be  managed ; and 
men-servants  to  be  directed.  And  when  I had  provided  as  well  as  I 
could,  some  persons  in  my  family  would  despisingly  say,  my  victuals 
were  not  worth  eating,  and  that  I knew  not  how  to  order  anything. 
The  house  was  large,  and  there  was  land  to  it ; but,  one  day,  Richard 


Age  51.]  Jkfzss  Bosanquet  turns  Farmer  and  Maltster.  481 


Taylor,  whom  I had  employed  in  ordering  the  out-door  affairs,  brought 
me  word  of  a farm  very  cheap,  on  which  were  malt-kilns,  a small  house, 
and  many  out-buildings.  The  farm  was  large,  and  he  thought  if, 
besides  the  farm-house,  we  were  to  build  one  big  enough  for  our  family, 
it  would  be  cheaper  than  to  rent  a house.  I went  to  Leeds  to  consult 

the  most  judicious  of  my  friends  ; in  particular  Mr.  R , a man  well 

acquainted  with  business,  and  the  most  intimate  friend  I had  in  York- 
shire. He  replied,  ' Had  you  waited  a dozen  years,  you  might  not  have 
met  with  such  an  opportunity.  Richard  Taylor  knows  well  how  to 
manage,  if  you  do  not ; and  I have  no  doubt  the  farm  will  clear  you 
;^i50  a year,  which  will  be  good  interest  for  your  money. 

I prayed  for  light,  bought  the  estate,  formed  the  plan  for  the  house, 
and  set  about  it.  But  I found  building  no  cheaper  in  Yorkshire  than  in 
the  south,  or  but  little  so.  It  cost  a good  deal  more  than  was  at  first 
proposed.  The  farm  took  much  money  to  stock  it,  and  to  bring  it  into 
order;  and,  as  I had  not  sufficient  for  all  the  expenses,  I was  obliged 
to  take  up  money  on  interest,  which  I hoped  to  pay  off  at  the  rate  of 
a year.  The  malt-kilns  seemed  to  answer  well,  and  cleared  the 
first  year  above  all  expenses. 

I found  my  mind  much  united  to  Brother  and  Sister  Taylor.  I strove 
to  remove  their  burdens,  and  went  in  person  to  their  creditors.  After 
meeting  with  some  opposition,  I got  their  affairs  settled,  at  the  expense 
of  between  two  and  three  hundred  pounds. 

My  perplexities  increased.  The  farm  had  sunk  a very  large  sum 
to  bring  it  into  order,  and  the  kilns  took  much  money  to  work  them, 
a great  deal  of  which  lay  scattered  up  and  down  in  debts,  owing  to  me 
from  lesser  maltsters.  I also  saw  that  Richard  Taylor  went  too  far  ; 
that  he  was  inclined  to  venture  much  ; that  he  kept  too  many  men  ; and 
that  he  gave  a great  deal  too  much  credit. 

“ I lessened  my  family  all  I could,  by  putting  out  some  of  the  bigger 
children  to  trades,  or  sen^ants’  places ; but  much  expense  attended  it. 
Richard  Taylor  also  had  several  children,  while  with  me,  so  that  the 
family  still  consisted  of  twenty-five  persons  ; the  majority  of  whom  were 

grown  persons.  Losses  continually  occurred.  I consulted  Mr. , 

and  other  friends  about  my  situation ; but  most  of  them  were  for  some 
further  exertion  in  trade.  That  I knew  would  not  do.  Some  said, 

‘ Turn  away  all  the  members  of  your  family  : you  have  enough  to  live  on 
alone  with  a servant  or  two  ; ’ but  I could  not  see  how  that  could  be 

done,  for  several  of  them  were  old,  sickly,  or  helpless.  Mr. said, 

‘ There  is  but  one  way  for  you  ; put  the  farm  into  the  hands  of  Richard 
Taylor,  entirely  separate  from  yourself;  let  him  have  the  stock  just  as 
it  is,  and  work  the  kilns  as  he  can  raise  the  money.  Let  him  pay  you 
;^6o  a year,  and  take  his  family  to  the  end  of  the  house.  I agreed  to 
this,  and  Richard  Taylor  paid  his  rent  regularly ; but,  as  he  was  to 
have  the  farm  free  of  debt,  I found  a good  deal  to  pay  which  he  had  not 
brought  to  account ; so  that,  before  all  was  settled,  I had  again  to  take 
up  money  on  interest,  which  was  no  small  affliction  to  me.  Could  I 
have  sold  the  place,  I would  have  chosen  it  rather. 


31 


482 


TVes/ey’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


We  went  on  tolerably  for  three  years.  Mr. thought  the  farm 

increased  in  heart ; the  stock  also  improved,  and  all  was  cheerful, 
except  in  my  own  mind,  which  foreboded  deep  waters.  This  was  soon 
realized.  In  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  year,  Taylor  was  ;^6oo  in  debt. 
I thought,  I am  not  obliged  to  pay  his  debt ; let  him  break,  and  bear 
his  own  burden  ; but  I soon  saw  that  I must  either  give  up  the  stock, 
which  would  be  sold  for  half  it  value,  or  I must  pay  the  money.  Besides, 
I was  now  informed,  that,  when  he  ceased  to  act  as  my  agent,  I ought 
to  have  advertised  it,  that  no  one  might  trust  him  through  confidence 
in  me.” 

Thus,  through  wretched  Richard  Taylor,  Miss  Bosanquet 
found  herself  in  a most  serious  entanglement.  At  the  first, 
she  felt  she  was  not  bound  to  pay  Taylor’s  debt  ; but  Taylor’s 
wife,  big  with  child,  came  to  her  wringing  her  hands,  and 
entreating ‘her  to  save  her  husband  from  being  sent  to  prison. 
The  result  was,  Miss  Bosanquet  paid  the  debt,  by  accepting 

the  offer  of  a loan  of  £600  from  Mr. , who  became  a 

partner  with  her  in  the  farm  and  malt-kilns,  and  took  the 
management  of  the  whole.  This,  however,  did  not  end  her 
anxieties.  She  writes  : — 

my  deep  troubles,  a thought  occurred  to  my  mind.  ‘Perhaps 
Mr.  Fletcher  is  to  be  my  deliverer ; ’ but  I started  from  the  idea,  lest  it 
should  be  a stratagem  of  Satan.  We  had  not  seen  or  heard  from  each 
other  for  more  than  fifteen  years.  Besides,  I was  now  (in  August,  1777), 
told  that  Mr.  Fletcher  was  dying.  As  I was,  one  day,  in  prayer,  offer- 
ing him  up  to  the  Lord,  these  words  occurred  to  me, — ‘ The  prayer  of 
faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up.’  I thought 
if  the  Lord  should  raise  him  up,  and  should  bring  him  back  from 
Switzerland  to  England,  and  he  should  propose  to  marry  me,  could 
I doubt  its  being  of  God?  I felt  an  unaccountable  liberty  to  ask, — i. 
That  Mr.  Fletcher  might  be  raised  up.  2.  That  he  might  be  brought 
back  to  England.  3.  That  he  might  write  to  me  on  the  subject  before 
he  saw  me,  though  we  had  been  so  many  years  asunder,  without  so 
much  as  a message  passing  on  any  subject.  4.  That  he  might  tell  me, 
in  his  letter,  that  (marrying  me)  had  been  the  subject  of  his  thoughts 
and  prayers  for  years.  It  also  occurred  to  me,  that,  should  this  take 
place  in  the  end  of  1781,  it  would  be  a still  greater  confirmation,  as 
Providence  seemed  to  point  me  to  that  season  as  a time  of  hope.” 

Miss  Bosanquet’s  troubles  were  continued.  Her  new  part- 
nership was  disastrous,  and  Mr. ’s  management  a failure. 

He  had  told  her  she  would  receive  ;^ioo  a-year  towards 
paying  off  the  debts  she  owed  to  himself  and  others  ; but 
the  farm,  instead  of  yielding  a profit,  was  worked  at  a los^. 


Age  51.]  Jlfzss  Bosanquet  receives  a Letter from  Fletcher.  483 


The  interest  she  had  to  pay  so  reduced  her  income,  that  it 
became  impossible  to  keep  more  than  half  her  family  with 
what  remained.  She  writes  : — 

to  the  kilns,  I had  neither  money  nor  courage  to  work  them. 
I strove,  I worked  hard,  I prayed ; and,  at  length,  I proposed  to  the 
members  of  my  family  to  disperse,  and  learn  some  little  business  ; and 
I would  allow  to  each  of  them  what  I could.  It  was  a most  painful 
thing ; but  I saw  there  was  no  way  but  first  to  sell  the  place,  and  then 
disperse. 

Just  at  this  time,  a gentleman  proposed  to  buy  the  place,  stock, 
lease,  and  everything.  He  was  a man  both  of  fortune  and  of  honour, 
and  really  wished  to  help  me  out  of  my  difficulties ; and  the  price  he 
otfered  would  bring  me  through  all,  and  leave  me  a good  income.  The 
bargain  was  in  part  made ; but,  alas  ! he  took  a fever,  and,  in  a few 
days,  died.  I now  saw  but  one  way — to  advertise  Cross  Hall,  and  sell 
it  for  what  I could ; and,  paying  the  purchase  money  away  as  far  as  it 
would  go,  strive  yearly  to  lessen  the  remaining  part  of  the  debt  by  my 
income,  reserving  only  £^o  per  year  to  live  on,  and  to  help  my  friends. 
But  I recollected  that  I might  not  live  long  enough  thus  to  pay  the 
debt  by  my  income.  I then  proposed  to  myself  to  keep  only  £20  per 
year;  nay,  I thought,  how  can  I have  a right  even  to  twenty.?  Justice 
is  before  mercy.  One  day,  as  I was  standing  at  a window,  musing  on 
this  subject,  I saw  a poor  man  driving  asses  laden  with  sand,  by  which 
he  gained  his  bread.  As  I looked  on  him,  I thought,  I am  perfectly 
willing  to  take  up  the  business  of  that  man.  If  I can  preser\^e  unsold 
one  of  the  freehold  cottages,  the  asses  might  graze  on  the  common, 
and  I could  follow  them  with  something  to  sell.  There  were  but  few 
trades  which  my  conscience  would  suffer  me  to  follow ; and  my  abilities 
were  equal  to  still  fewer ; but  to  anything  in  the  world  would  I turn, 
that  was  not  sinful,  rather  than  remain  in  debt.” 

“The  7th  of  June,  1781,  was  the  day  that  began  my  fourteenth  year 
in  Yorkshire.  I saw  difficulties,  as  mountains,  rise  all  around  me  ; but 
the  very  next  day,  June  the  8th,  I received  a letter  from  Mr.  Fletcher, 
in  which  he  told  me,  that  he  had,  for  twenty-five  years,  found  a regard 
for  me,  which  was  still  as  sincere  as  ever ; and,  though  it  might  appear 
odd  that  he  should  write  on  such  a subject,  when  but  just  returned  from 
abroad,  and  more  so  without  seeing  me  first,  he  could  only  say,  that 
his  mind  was  so  strongly  drawn  to  do  it,  he  believed  it  to  be  the  order 
of  Providence.”  ^ 

Thus  began  Fletcher’s  courtship,  which  ended  five  months 
afterwards  in  his  marrying  Mary  Bosanquet. 

The  foregoing  is  a strange  story.  Of  set  purpose,  nothing 


* These  statements  are  partly  taken  from  “A  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
John  Wesley.  By  a Gentlewoman,  1764”  (Miss  Bosanquet);  and  partly 
from  the  “ Life  of  Mrs.  Mary  Fletcher.  By  Henry  Moore,  1818.” 


484 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


has  been  said  of  Miss  Bosanquet's  earnest  piety,  gospel 
labours,,  and  spiritual  successes,  both  in  the  south  of  England 
and  in  Yorkshire.  The  object  has  been  to  show  to  what 
straits  a young  lady  of  fortune  was  brought,  by  injudicious 
generosity,  by  foolish  advisers,  and,  perhaps,  it  may  be 
added,  by  crafty  mendicants.  Eighteen  years  before  this, 
in  a letter  to  Charles  Wesley,  Fletcher  confessed  that  he 
regarded  Miss  Bosanquet  with  admiration  and  that  Miss 
Bosanquet  regarded  Fletcher  with  equal  admiration  the  fore- 
going extracts  amply  prove  ; as  does  also  a letter,  which  she 
addressed  to  Wesley,  nearly  six  years  before  her  marriage, 
and  from  which  the  following  is  taken  : — 

Cross  Hall,  February  7,  1776. 

“Rev.  Sir, — I thank  you  for  your  kind  favour  of  January  27.  It 
yielded  us  much  satisfaction  ; for  never  before  could  we  get  any  account 
to  be  depended  on. 

“ I am  exceedingly  thankful  Mr.  Fletcher  is  with  Mrs.  Greenwood. 
She  will  tenderly  care  for  him  : and,  having  a spiritual  mind,  will  be 
sensible  of  the  honour  God  does  her,  in  giving  her  such  an  opportunity. 

“ How  wise  are  all  the  ways  of  God,  in  keeping  His  faithful  servant 
in  that  retired  spot”  (Stoke  Newington),  “while  those  precious  works 
are  completed,  by  which  he  will  yet  speak  to  us,  though  in  glory  : and 
now  to  enable  him  to  bring  them  out,  while  his  exemplary  life  and 
conversation  add  a lustre  to  the  truths  he  has  so  powerfully  defended. 

“We  could  have  liked  to  have  seen  him  once  more  ; but  the  will  of 
the  Lord  be  done  ! Should  it  happen  that  this  sickness  is  not  unto 
death,  we  shall  rejoice  in  having  an  opportunity  of  assisting  him  in  any- 
thing which  lies  in  our  power.  Should  this  favour  be  denied  us,  we 
must  be  content ; and  beseech  God  to  reward  those  who  may  supply 
our  lack  of  service. 

“ The  blessed  account  you  give  of  the  state  of  his  mind  filled  my  soul 
with  sacred  joy,  as  also  those  of  my  friends.  While  I was  reading  it, 
it  was  a solemn  season  of  faith  and  love,  and  we  could  not  help  saying, 
‘ Ah,  Lord  ! Let  not  this  shining  light  be  so  soon  extinguished  ! ’ 

“ A few  weeks  ags,  I once  more  read  the  ^ Equal  Cheeky’’  and  felt  an 
unction  in  it  above  all  I had  ever  found  before.  The  ^ Essay  on  Truth 
with  the  Appendix,  is  as  marrow  and  fatness  to  my  soul.  O may  all 
the  height  and  depth  of  every  Gospel  promise  be  written  on  his  heart ! ” ^ 

Did  Fletcher  ever  see  this  loving,  admiring  letter.-^  Perhaps 
he  did.  At  all  events,  Wesley’s  most  intimate  and  .con- 


Letters,  1791,  p.  143. 

Arminian  Magazme^  1788,  p.  48. 


Age  52.]  Fletcher  concerning  the  Celibacy  of  Ministers.  485 


fidential  friendship  with  both  Fletcher  and  Miss  Bosanquet 
was  such  as  to  justify  utterances,  which,  under  other  circum- 
stances, would  have  been  almost  impertinent.  In  his  sermon 
on  the  death  of  Fletcher,  Wesley  remarked,  “Miss  Bosanquet 
was  the  only  person  in  England  whom  I judged  to  be 
worthy  of  Mr.  Fletcher  ; ''  and  again,  in  a letter  to  Hester 
Ann  Rogers,  written  a month  after  the  marriage  took  place, 
he  observed,  “ I should  not  have  been  willing  that  Miss 
Bosanquet  should  have  been  joined  to  any  other  person 
than  Mr.  Fletcher.’’^  To  some,  such  language  may  seem 
unusual,  but,  in  reality,  it  was  natural  ; for  Wesley  had  long 
been  regarded  as  their  father  in  Christ,  both  by  Fletcher 
and  his  wife  ; and,  no  doubt,  both  of  them  had  consulted 
jiim  with  respect  to  the  step  they  proposed  to  take. 

After  all,  Fletcher’s  matrimonial  offer  was  a curious  inci- 
dent. He  was  now  fifty-two  years  of  age.  For  the  last 
four  years  and  a-half,  he  had  been  absent  from  his  parish, 
and  so  seriously  ill,  that,  again  and  again,  his  friends  expected 
him  to  die.  Some  of  his  views,  also,  of  ministers  marrying 
at  all  were  rather  peculiar,  though  rational  and  sound.  In 
his  “ Portrait  of  St.  Paul,”  composed  in  Switzerland,  and 
revised  and  finished  after  his  return  to  Madeley,  Fletcher 
wrote  : — 

‘‘When  a man  is  perpetually  called  to  travel  from  place  to  place, 
prudence  requires  that  he  should  not  encumber  himself  with  those 
domestic  cares,  which  must  occasion  many  unavoidable  delays  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  business  : or,  if  he  derives  his  maintenance  from  the 
generosity  of  the  poor,  charity  should  constrain  him  to  burden  them  as 
little  as  possible.  St.  Paul  could  not  prevail  upon  himself  to  expose  a 
woman  and  children  to  those  innumerable  dangers,  which  he  was  con- 
stantly obliged  to  encounter.  The  first  peril,  from  which  he  made  his 
escape,  was  that  which  compelled  him  to  descend  from  the  wall  of 
Damascus  in  a basket:  now  if  a family  had  shared  with  him  in  the  same 
danger,  what  an  addition  would  they  have  made  to  his  affliction  and 
his  care  ! Is  it  not  evident,  that,  in  such  circumstances,  every  man, 
who  is  not  obliged  to  marry  from  reasons  either  physical  or  moral,  is 
called  to  imitate  the  example  of  this  disinterested  Apostle,  from  the 
same  motives  of  prudence  and  charity.  This  indefatigable  preacher, 
always  on  a mission,  judged  it  advisable  to  continue  in  a single  state 
to  the  end  of  his  days  : but,  had  he  been  fixed  in  a particular  church  ; 


Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  78. 


486 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


had  he  there  felt  how  much  it  concerns  a minister  neither  to  tempt  others, 
nor  to  be  tempted  himself ; and  had  he  known  how  much  assistance  a 
modest,  provident,  and  pious  woman  is  capable  of  atfording  a pastor, 
by  inspecting  the  women  of  his  flock,  he  would  then  probably  have 
advised  every  resident  pastor  to  enter  into  the  marriage  state,  provided 
they  should  fix  upon  regenerate  persons,  capable  of  edifying  the  Church.” 

Probably,  while  writing  this,  Fletcher  was  thinking  of 
Wesley  and  his  itinerant  preachers,  and  also  of  the  difference 
between  them  and  himself,  as  the  Vicar  of  Madeley.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  from  the  doctrine  he  has  laid  down,  he 
deduces  the  following  principles  : — 

I.  In  times  of  great  trouble  and  grievous  persecutions,  the  followers 
of  Christ  should  abstain  from  marriage,  unless  obliged  thereto  by  par- 
ticular and  powerful  reasons.  2.  The  faithful,  who  mean  to  embrace 
the  nuptial  state,  should  be  careful,  on  no  account,  to  connect  themselves 
with  any  persons,  except  such  as  are  remarkable  for  their  seriousness 
and  piety.  3.  Missionaries  ought  not  to  marry,  unless  there  is  an  abso- 
lute necessity.  4.  A bishop,  or  resident  pastor,  is  usually  called  to  the 
marriage  state.  5.  A minister  of  the  Gospel,  who  is  able  to  live  in  a 
state  of  celibacy  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven' s sake,  that  he  may  have 
no  other  care  except  that  of  preaching  the  Gospel  and  attending  upon 
the  members  of  Christ’s  mystical  body, — such  a one  is  undoubtedly 
called  to  continue  in  a single  state.” 

Many  will  disapprove  of  some  of  Fletcher’s  deductions  ; 
but  it  is  easier  to  disapprove  than  to  refute. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1781,  Miss  Bosanquet  received 
Fletcher’s  offer  of  marriage.  They  had  long  admired  each 
other,  but,  when  they  first  became  acquainted,  Fletcher 
regarded  Miss  Bosanquet’s  fortune  as  an  insuperable  barrier 
to  their  union  ; and  Miss  Bosanquet  was  too  much  occupied 
with  her  philanthropic  schemes  to  think  of  being  married. 
Now,  Fletcher,  to  a great  extent,  was  an  invalid,  and,  as 
much  as  any  man  alive,  needed  a pious  and  loving  nurse. 
Miss  Bosanquet,  also,  was  in  a quagmire  of  financial  embar- 
rassments, and  greatly  needed  a tender,  judicious  friend. 

Fletcher’s  letter,  despatched  early  in  the  month  of  June, 
led  to  a correspondence  which  lasted  till  August  i,  when 
Fletcher  arrived  in  Yorkshire  to  attend  Wesley’s  Conference 
at  Leeds.  Miss  Bosanquet  writes  : — 

^‘Mr.  Fletcher  came  to  Cross  Hall,  and  abode  there  a month  ; preach- 
ing in  different  places  with  much  power.  Having  opened  our  whole 


A«e  52.] 


Original  Love-Letter. 


487 


hearts  to  each  other,  both  on  temporals  and  spirituals,  we  believed  it  to 
be  the  order  of  God  that  we  should  become  one,  when  He  should  make 
our  way  plain.” ' 

Properly  enough,  Fletcher  wished,  before  marrying  Miss 
Bosanquet,  to  consult  her  family,  and  to  obtain  their  approval. 
To  this  she  consented  ; and,  three  weeks  after  his  return  to 
Madeley,  Fletcher  wrote  the  following,  hitherto  unpublished, 
letters.  Some  will  condemn  the  printing  of  this  private 
correspondence ; but  as  it  contains  nothing  but  what  is 
honourable  to  all  the  parties  concerned,  and  as  it  exhibits 
the  Vicar  of  Madeley  in  a new  position,  most  readers  will 
be  thankful  for  it 

The  first  letter  was  addressed  to  Miss  Bosanquet,  and 
shows  the  ardour  of  her  wooer  : — 

''Madeley,  September  22,  1781. 

"My  Dearest  Friend, — I have  received  thy  dear  letter,  with  the 
one  enclosed  from  thy  brother.  I shall  send  it  back  to  thee  by  Mr. 
Brisco,^  who  will  call  here  on  his  way  to  Birstal. 

" O Polly  ! generous,  faithful  Polly ! dost  thou  indeed  permit  me  to 
write  to  thy  friends,  and  to  ask  the  invaluable  gift  of  thy  hand  ? That 
hand,  that  is  half  shall  be  wholly  mine.  I have,  to-day,  written 

two  letters, — one  to  thy  uncle,  the  other  to  thy  elder  brother.  Correct 
them,  and,  when  thou  hast,  forward  them  with  much  prayer  and  love. 
Back  them  with  some  of  thy  sweet  arguments.  Thou  knowest  how  to 
come  at  thy  friends.  I don’t : I have  only  followed  my  instinct  for  thee 
in  this  new  business. 

" Polly!  I read  thy  letter,  and  wondered  at  the  expression  in  it, — 
' If  you  think  7ne  worth  writing  for  I*  Ah  ! my  holy,  my  loving,  my 
lovely,  my  precious  friend,  I think  thee  worth  writing  for  with  my  vital 
blood : I am  only  sorry  that  I had  not  thee  beside  me  to  write  with  thy 
wisdom.  However,  I write  by  the  first  post : direct  the  letters  pro- 
perly ; and  excuse  my  sending  them  by  thee^  as  I don’t  remember  the 
names  and  streets. 

"'Difficulties!’  If  thou  hast  any,  I shall  gladly  share  them  with 
thee,  and  think  myself  well  repaid  with  the  pleasure  of  praying  and 
praising  with  thee,  and  for  thee.  Therefore,  do  not  talk  of  struggling 
through  alone.  I charge  thee,  by  thy  faithfulness,  let  me  be  alone  as 
little  time  as  thou  canst. 

" ' Three  thousand  pounds’  with  thee  ! My  dear,  if  thou  art  mine, 
and  canst  live  in  our  cottage  here,  praising  and  blessing  God,  I shall 


' "Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life.” 

2 Thomas  Brisco,  a fine  old  Methodist  Itinerant  Preacher,  at  that 
time  the  Superintendent  of  the  Birstal  Circuit. 


488 


Wesley  s Desigjiated  Successor, 


[1781. 


rejoice  more  than  Mephibosheth,  when,  through  joy,  he  said,  ‘ Let  Ziba 
take  all,  forasmuch  as  my  lord  the  king  is  come  back  in  peace’  (2  Sam. 
xix.  30).  Let  not  thy  wisdom,  Polly,  make  thee  suspect  and  surmise 
evil.  Let  thy  charity  make  thee  hope  all  things  for  thy  friends. 

“ I thank  thee  for  that  believing  sentence, — ' But,  all  shall  be  right.’ 
The  worst  thy  friends  can  do  is  to  keep  thy  money,  which  T look  upon 
as  dung  and  dross  in  comparison  of  thee.  Ah  Polly  ! with  the  treasure 
of  thy  friendship,  and  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ,  how  rich 
thinkest  thou  I am  ? Count — cast  up — but  thou  wilt  never  make  out 
the  amazing  sum. 

“ So  thou  wilt  keep  ‘ two  years  ’ from  me  to  bring  me  some  money  ! 
Oh,  Polly  ! that  is  a saying  more  worthy  of  Change  Alley  than  of  the 
paradise  of  love.  Let  me  comfort  thee  a little.  If  thou  lovest  me  half 
as  much  as  I do  thee,  thou  wilt  think  thyself  rich.  Thou  art  worth  to 
me  a million  ; and  cannot  / be  worth  thy  ;^5,ooo  ? 

I embrace  thee  in  spirit,  and  more  than  mix  my  soul  with  thine. 
Farewell ! 

''J.  Fletcher.” 

The  two  letters  referred  to  in  this  sweethearting  epistle, 
and  addressed  to  Miss  Bosanquet’s  uncle,  Claudius  Bosanquet, 
Esq.,  and  to  her  brother,  S.  Bosanquet,  Esq.,  were  the 
following  : — 

“To  Claudius  Bosanquet,  Esq. 

“ Madeley,  September  22 y 1781. 

“ Sir, — Permit  a stranger  to  claim  some  moments  of  the  time  you 
consecrate  to  your  neighbours’  happiness  and  the  welfare  of  your  own 
family. 

“ I was  born  in  the  Pays  de  Vaud  at  Nyon,  a town  about  fifteen  miles 
north  of  Geneva,  on  the  borders  of  the  lake.  My  father,  in  his  youth, 
was  an  officer  in  the  French  service,  which  he  left  to  marry.  He  was 
afterwards  a colonel  in  the  militia  of  his  country,  and  a judge  or  assessor 
to  the  lord-lieutenant  of  the  town  where  he  lived.  I am  the  youngest 
of  his  eight  children.  Having  some  desires  to  be  a clergyman,  I was, 
for  seven  years,  sent  to  Geneva  to  pursue  my  studies.  But  after  I had 
stayed  there  seven  years,  a fear  of  being  unfit  for  the  Christian  ministry, 
and  the  enticing  offers  of  my  father’s  brother,  who  was  a lieutenant- 
colonel  in  the  Dutch  service,  made  me  for  a time  prefer  the  sword  to  the 
gown.  I left  the  academy”  [at  Geneva]  “and  went  to  Flanders  to 
join  my  eldest  brother,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  Dutch  service  ; but, 
before  I could  enter  the  army,  the  peace  was  made,  and  my  uncle,  on 
whom  my  hopes  depended,  left  the  service. 

“ Seeing  my  way  to  military  preferment  blocked  up  by  these  two 
events,  I came  to  England,  to  get  more  perfect  in  the  English  tongue, 
which  I had  begun  to  learn  at  Geneva.  Some  months  after  I was  come 
over,  Mr.  Des  Champs,  a French  minister,  to  whom  I had  been  recom- 
mended, procured  me  the  place  of  tutor  to  the  son  of  Mr.  Hill,  member 
of  Parliament  for  Shrev/sbury.  In  his  family  I lived  some  years,  and 


Age  52.]  Original  Letter  to  Miss  Bosanquef  s Uncle.  489 


applied  myself  to  the  study  of  divinity  ; and,  at  his  request,  and  by  his 
interest,  I got  into  Orders  ; a calling  which  now  suited  my  more  serious 
turn  of  mind. 

It  was  soon  after  my  ordination  that  I saw  Miss  Mary  Bosanquet, 
your  pious  niece.  I had  resolved  not  to  marry,  but  the  sweetness  of  her 
temper,  and  her  devotedness  to  God,  made  me  think  that  if  ever  I 
broke  through  my  resolution,  it  would  be  to  cast  my  lot  with  one  like 
her. 

“ Not  long  after,  at  Mr.  Hilhs  request,  his  nephew,  Mr.  Kinaston, 
member  for  Montgomery,  presented  me  to  the  living  of  Madeley,  a 
little  market-town  in  the  county  of  Salop,  worth  about  100  per  annum  ; 
and  here  I have  chiefly  lived,  sequestered  from  the  world,  as  your 
amiable  niece  has  done  at  Leyton  and  at  Cross^Sall. 

‘‘After  having  corresponded  some  years  with  her  on  various  subjects, 
last  spring,  on  my  return  from  a journey  to  the  continent,  I ventured  to 
mention  to  her  my  first  thoughts  about  a closer  union  with  her, — thoughts 
which  I had  kept  to  myself  for  nearly  twenty-five  years.  After  maturely 
discussing  the  point,  your  pious  niece  has  given  me  room  to  hope  she 
will  give  me  her  hand,  if  you.  Sir,  whom  she  honours  as  a father,  give 
your  consent  to  our  union.  I earnestly  ask  it.  Sir;  and  beg  you  will 
share  -the  pleasure  of  uniting  two  persons  who,  from  a remarkable  agree- 
ment of  taste,  sentiments,  and  pursuits,  as  well  as  from  a particular 
sympathy,  seem  formed  for  each  other  by  the  God  of  nature  and  of 
grace. 

“ I wish.  Sir,  I had  a fortune  equal  to  Miss  Bosanquet’ s deserts  ; but 
I hope  I have  one  suitable  to  her  piety,  and  to  the  moderate  wishes  of 
that  godliness  which,  together  with  contentment,  is  a great  gain.  I 
have  only  about  ^1,500  worth  of  property  in  my  native  country,  and 
about  ^400  or  ;^500  more  in  my  parish,  besides  the  income  of  my 
living,  and  a house  much  better  than  those  with  which  most  country 
clergymen  are  obliged  to  put  up. 

“ Whatever  be  your  pious  niece’s  fortune,  I assure  you,  Sir,  I seek 
her  person,  not  her  property  ; and  to  convince  you  of  it,  I request  that 
before  she  gives  me  her  hand,  her  whole  fortune  may  be  secured  to  her 
by  a proper  settlement. 

“ With  respect  to  my  character,  and  the  truth  of  what  I have  here 
advanced,  I beg  leave  to  refer  you.  Sir,  to  four  creditable  persons.  With 
regard  to  my  conduct,  and  what  I affirm  of  myself  as  Vicar  of  Madeley, 
you  may  get  proper  informations  from  Thomas  Hill,  Esq.,  now  in  Salop, 
the  old  gentleman  in  whose  house  or  neighbourhood  I have  lived  very 
near  thirty  years  ; and  from  his  son,  Noel  Hill,  Esq.,  member  for  Shrop- 
shire, the  gentleman  to  whom  I was  tutor.  With  respect  to  what  I 
have  mentioned  of  myself  as  a native  of  Switzerland,  you  may.  Sir, 
procure  proper  informations  from  two  clergymen  now  in  that  country, 
Mr.  De  Bons  and  Mr.  Tavan,  whom  I saw  last  Christmas  at  Lausanne, 
and  whom  you  have  probably  seen  in  London,  when  they  served  French 
churches  there. 

“ I would.  Sir,  have  waited  upon  you  in  person,  in  London,  if  some 


490 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


journeys  which  my  curate  must  take  did  not  oblige  me  to  stay  here  to 
serve  my  own  church. 

''  I shall  have  the  honour  to  write  upon  the  same  subject  to  Miss 
Bosanquet’s  brothers,  and  shall  take  the  liberty  of  referring  them  to 
this  letter,  for  some  account  of  him  who  aspires  to  the  hand  of  their 
pious  sister;  and  who,  with  respect  to  temporal  happiness,  desires 
nothing  so  ardently  as  to  have  your  leave  to  add  the  name  of  nephew 
to  that  of.  Sir,  your  most  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

‘'John  Delaflechere. 

P.S. — Soon  after  I came  to  England,  my  English  friends,  com- 
plaining of  the  length  of  my  Swiss  name,  began  to  contract  it  by  drop- 
ping the  French  syllables  of  it.  So  they  called  me  Fletcher  ; and  by 
that  name  I have  been  known  among  the  English  ever  since.  If  you 
favour  me  with  an  answer.  Sir,  it  will  find  me  if  it  is  directed  thus  : — 

“ Mr.  Fletcher, 

“ Vicar  of  Madeley, 

“ Near  Shitfnal, 

“ Shropshire.’^ 

The  letter  addressed  to  Miss  Bosanquet’s  brother  was  as 
follows  : — 

“ Madeley,  near  Shiffnal,  Shropshire, 

“ September  22,  1781. 

“ Sir, — Aspiring  to  the  happiness  of  being  united  to  your  pious  sister. 
Miss  Bosanquet,  and  to  the  honour  of  being,  by  her  means,  connected 
with  your  family,  I should  be  wanting  both  to  my  duty  and  my  inclina- 
tion if  I proceeded  in  my  addresses  to  her  without  informing  you  of  my 
design,  and  asking  your  approbation  of  it. 

“ By  this  post  I send  to  Claudius  Bosanquet,  Esq.,  some  account  of 
myself,  wFich  I hope  he  will  communicate  to  you.  Sir,  and  to  your 
brother.  I shall  only  add  two  things. 

“Among  the  reasons  which  hindered  me  from  making  my  addresses 
to  your  amiable  sister,  when  first  I felt  that  sympathy  which  binds  my 
soul  to  hers,  the  superiority  of  her  fortune  was  not  the  least.  Since  that 
time,  debts,  which  unforeseen  circumstances  led  her  to  contract,  have 
considerably  lessened  that  difficulty  ; and  the  prudent  fear  of  contract- 
ing new  ones  seems  to  make  it  expedient  for  her  to  get  into  a state 
where  she  may,  without  difficulty  and  with  propriety,  bring  her  expensive 
housekeeping  within  narrower  bounds.  That  end  will  at  once  be  attained 
if  she  favours  me  with  her  hand. 

“ Further,  in  extricating  herself  from  some  difficulties,  she  will  crown 
the  wishes  of  the  oldest  and  warmest  of  her  friends  ; and  contribute  not 
to  my  happiness  only,  but  to  that  of  my  numerous  flock.  You  are  too 
well  acquainted  with  your  pious  sister’s  turn  of  mind  not  to  know  that 
Providence  designed  her  for  a clergyman’s  partner  and  fellow'-helper. 
Her  instructions,  her  employment,  her  very  pleasures  from  her  child- 


Age  52.] 


Financial  Affairs, 


491 


hood,  have  led  her  to  assist  her  neighbours  in  temporal  as  well  as  in 
spiritual  matters.  She  has  even  been  blamed  for  the  warmth  of  her 
zeal.  But  what  seemed  rather  awkward  and  improper  in  a single  woman, 
will  become  highly  expedient  and  highly  commendable  in  a clergyman’s 
wife.  The  secondary  inspection  and  care  of  the  children  and  women 
of  a flock  of  two  thousand  souls  will  then  naturally  devolve  to  her  share, 
and  in  some  sense  become  her  duty. 

“ I hope  that  if  you,  Sir,  your  worthy  uncle,  your  brother,  and  Mrs. 
Gassen’  weigh  these  particulars  you  will  consent  to  our  union,  and  by 
that  means  contribute  more  than  I can  express  to  the  happiness,  Sir, 
of  your  most  humble  and  most  obedient  servant, 

‘‘J.  Fletcher.” 

In  due  time,  in  a letter,  dated  Forest  House,  October  2, 
1 78  i,''S.  Bosanquet,  Esq.,  informed  Fletcher  that  he  approved 
of  the  proposed  marriage  ; but  added  : — 

“My  sister’s  fortune  is  so  encumbered,  that  nothing  but  the  sale  of 
all  her  landed  estate  can  free  her  from  her  difiiculties ; and,  if  that 
portion  of  her  fortune,  which  came  to  her  by  my  father’s  will,  had  not 
been  tied  up,  she  would  have  been  ruined.”^ 

A fortnight  later,  Mr.  S.  Bosanquet  wrote  to  his  sister, 
and  gave  her  an  account  of  her  fortune,  amounting  in  the 
aggregate  to  i!^io,500.  He  then  told  her  that  she  had 
already  squandered  the  whole  of  this  amount,  with  the 
exception  of  ^^^4,500  settled  on  trustees,  for  her  benefit,  by 
her  father’s  will.  He  continued  : — 

“One  reason  why  my  father  secured  this  money,  by  leaving  it  on 
trust,  was,  lest,  by  your  placing  too  great  confldence  in  those  with  whom 
you  were  connected,  and  by  your  endeavouring  to  do  more  good  than 
your  circumstances  would  afford,  you  might  be  left  destitute.” 

He  then  added  : — 

“ I cannot  conclude  without  remarking  that,  although  you  are  encum- 
bered with  debts,  you  must  be,  at  least,  an  equal  match  for  Mr.  Fletcher. 
Your  two  estates®  have  always  been  considered  as  fully  equal  to  your 
debts ; but,  suppose  they  should  not  turn  out  to  be  so,  the  difference 
cannot  be  very  great ; and,  as  the  remainder  of  your  income  exceeds 
£200  a year,  it  at  least  equals  Mr.  Fletcher’s  income,  such  as  it  has 


‘ Miss  Bosanquet’ s married  sister.  The  two  sisters  began  their 
religious  life  together  at  a very  early  age. 

® Unpublishe  d letter. 

^ The  Leytonstone  estate,  valued  at  ^3,000  ; and  that  bequeathed  by 
her  grandmother,  valued  at  £2,^00. 


492 


IVesley^s  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


been  stated  to  me  ; besides  the  consideration  that  the  greater  part  of 
his  income  dies  with  him,  and  the  capital  of  yours  survives  in  case  there 
should  be  children,  for  their  benefit.”  ^ 

At  the  same  time,  Miss  Bosanquet’s  brother  William,  in 
a letter  dated  “Lime  Street,  London,  October  16,  1781^'’ 
replied  to  her  wail  that  she  could  ''carry  Mr.  Fletcher  nothing 
but  debts,'’  and  stated  that  he  was  in  favour  of  her  marrying 
Fletcher.^ 

Before  taking  leave  of  the  Bosanquet  family,  it  may  be 
added,  that  Mr.  S.  Bosanquet  sent  his  sister,  as  his  wedding 
present,  a pair  of  silver  candlesticks  f and  that  her  brother 
William,  in  a letter  dated  "November  27,  1781,”  and 
addressed  " Mrs.  Fletcher,  Cross  Hall,  Morley  Common,  near 
Leeds,”  wrote 

‘H  cannot  but  hope  the  greatest  happiness  will  attend  your  union 
with  a gentlem.an  to  whom,  by  general  report,  the  highest  praise  is  due. 
Permit  me  to  wish  you  joy  on  this  occasion,  and  to  add  my  best  respects 
to  Mr.  Fletcher,  assuring  him  that  I shall  be  happy  to  cultivate  his 
acquaintance,  and  to  show  him  every  attention  in  my  power.”  * 

With  this  loving  letter,  Mr.  William  Bosanquet  forwarded 
to  his  sister  a nuptial  present  of  ^100. 

Another  fact  must  be  mentioned.  William  Bosanquet  loved 
his  sister,  and,  not  only  now,  but  in  aftertime,  he  showed  the 
genuineness  of  his  affection  by  his  deeds.  The  uncle,  Claudius 
Bosanquet,  in  his  last  will  and  testament,  bequeathed  to  Miss 
Bosanquet’s  two  brothers  18,000  each;  but  Miss  Bosanquet 
and  her  sister  Gassen  were  unnamed.  At  the  uncle’s  death, 
their  brother  William,  ev*er  generous  and  open-handed,  gave 
them  ^500  each;  when  Fletcher  died,  he  presented  to  the 
widow  £40  a year  to  relieve  the  wants  of  the  poor  of 
Madeley  ; and  when  he  himself  died,  in  18  13,  he  bequeathed 
her  the  sum  of  .£^2,000. 

These  details  have  not  been  given  without  a reason. 
Some  ill-informed  Methodists  have  a sort  of  floating  idea  that 
Fletcher’s  marriage  was  an  unequal  one — that  is,  they  seem 
to  think  that  the  Bosanquet  family  was  much  more  respect- 


Unpublished  letter. 
Ibid, 


^ Ibid, 
" Ibid, 


Age  52.] 


Settling  Affairs  in  Yorkshire. 


493 


able  than  that  of  Fletcher;  and  that  Miss  Bosanquet’s  fortune 
was  much  greater  than  the  fortune  of  the  man  who  became 
her  loving  and  devoted  husband.  Enough  has  been  said  to 
show  the  inaccuracy  of  this.  Fletcher’s  family  was  quite 
equal,  in  point  of  respectability,  to  the  Bosanquet  family, 
and,  perhaps,  superior  ; and  his  yearly  income  was  not  less 
than  that  of  the  lady  who  rejoiced  to  become  his  wife. 
Never  was  there  a marriage  more  free  from  mercenariness 
than  that  of  John  Fletcher,  of  Madeley,  and  Mary  Bosanquet, 
of  Cross  Hall,  Yorkshire.  It  was,  in  the  highest  and  purest 
sense,  a love-match.  The  letters,  just  given,  exhibit 
Fletcher’s  affection,  disinterestedness,  honour,  and  respect  for 
others.  Miss  Bosanquet  had  still  a remnant  of  her  fortune  ; 
but  he  wished  the  whole  of  this  to  be  settled  upon  herself. 
He  wished  to  marry  her,  but,  before  carrying  out  his  wish, 
as  a courteous  gentleman,  he  asked  for  the  approbation  of 
her  family,  thereby  setting  a good  example  to  his  inferiors 
and  juniors.  She  wished  to  marry  him  ; but,  shrinking  from 
the  idea  of  involving  him  in  her  pecuniary  embarrassments, 
she  proposed  to  postpone  the  marriage  till  her  affairs  were 
in  a more  settled  state.  Her  family  were  consulted  by 
Fletcher  ; and  they  responded  in  the  most  kind  and  straight- 
forward manner.  In  genius,  talent,  and  learning,  Fletcher 
was  immensely  Miss  Bosanquet’s  superior ; but,  for  pure, 
ardent,  disinterested,  unselfish  love,  it  is  impossible  to  decide 
which  of  the  two  was  entitled  to  bear  the  palm. 

Consent  to  the  marriage  having  been  obtained  from  the 
Bosanquet  family,  Fletcher  made  an  arrangement  to  spend 
the  remainder  of  the  year  with  his  affianced  in  Yorkshire. 
The  well-known  Rev.  John  Crosse,^  Vicar  of  Bradford,  took 
Fletcher’s  pulpit  at  Madeley,  and  Fletcher  took  Mr.  Crosse’s 
at  Bradford.^  To  some,  this  may  seem  somewhat  strange  ; 
but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Miss  Bosanquet’s  temporal 
affairs  were  in  a most  entangled  state,  and  that  it  was  of 
great  importance  that  her  Cross  Hall  property  should  be 
sold,  and  all  her  business  assets  and  debts  in  Yorkshire 


^ Mr.  Crosse  had  been  acquainted  with  Miss  Bosanquet  when  she 
resided  at  Leytonstone,  and,  from  that  time  to  this,  a warm  friendship 
had  existed  between  them.  (“  Life  of  Crosse,’’  by  Morgan,  p.  8.) 

^ “ Life  of  Rev.  John  Crosse,”  by  Morgan,  p.  9. 


494 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor, 


[1781. 


satisfactorily  settled  before  her  removal  to  Madeley.  Fletcher 
went  to  help  his  intended  bride,  and  did  help  her  ; for  her 
brother  William,  in  a letter,  written  to  her  a fortnight  after 
her  marriage,  observed,  “You  have  done  very  well  in  disposing 
of  your  place/' ^ For  months  past,  she  had  been  longing 

and  trying  to  turn  her  troublesome  property  into  money  : 
now  she  succeeded  in  doing  so.  A week  after  Fletchers 
arrival,  “a  gentleman  came  quite  unexpectedly,  and  bought" 
the  Cross  HalP  estate  “for  £ifi20  ; and,  three  days  after- 
wards, another  took  the  stock,  etc."  Arrangements  were  also 
made  for  the  locating  of  her  domestic  dependants  ; and  she 
was  enabled  to  write  : — 

‘‘All  was  now  so  far  settled,  that  I did  not  need  to  sell  Leytonstone 
estate.  My  income  would  afford  to  allow  my  dispersed  family  ^55  per 
year ; pay  the  interest  of  the  money  still  owing  ; and  yet  leave  me  such 
an  annual  sum  as  was  about  equal  to  my  dear  Mr.  Fletcher’s  ; and,  in 
case  of  my  death,  there  was  in  Leytonstone  more  than  would  pay  all. 
So,  on  Monday,  the  12th  of  November,  1781,  in  Batley  Church,  we  cove- 
nanted in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
to  bear  each  other’s  burdens,  and  to  become  one  for  ever.”* 

Fletcher  reached  Cross  Hall  towards  the  end  of  October, 
1781,  and  continued  there  till  January  2,  1782,  when  he 
and  his  bride  set  out  for  Madeley.  A glimpse  of  this  brief 
interval,  and  of  his  unique  wedding,  may  interest  the  reader. 

Of  course,  Fletcher  had  to  preach  every  Sunday  in  Mr. 
Crosse's  church  ; but,  in  addition  to  this,  he  also  preached 
in  Methodist  chapels.  Samuel  Bradburn,  at  that  time 
Wesley's  “ Assistant"  in  the  Bradford  Circuit,  wrote  : — 

“Mr.  Fletcher  is  married  to  Miss  Bosanquet.  Such  a pair ! I am 
inclined  to  think  there  never  was  a holier,  or  a happier,  couple,  since 
Adam  ate  the  forbidden  fruit.  At  all  events,  I can  say,  such  a man 
and  woman  I never  knew  married  before.  He  has  preached  in  two  of 
our  houses  at  Halifax  and  Bradford ; and  I think  that  there  never  \yere 
two  better  sermons  preached  in  England.”'* 


1 Unpublished  letter. 

2 Cross  Hall  still  exists ; at  all  events,  it  did  a few  years  ago,  when 
the  present  writer  visited  it — a square,  substantial,  two-story  edifice, 
built  of  stone,  shaded  with  trees,  and  having  a good  garden  behind  it. 

^ “ Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life,”  by  H.  Moore,  p.  142. 

^ Unpublished  letter. 


Age  52.] 


Fletcher  s Wedding. 


495 


This,  from  one  of  the  greatest  of  Methodism’s  pulpit  orators, 
was  no  ordinary  praise. 

Mrs.  Crosby  was  one  of  the  members  of  Miss  Bosanquet’s 
family,  and  wrote  : — 

Mr.  Fletcher’s  general  conversation,  while  at  Cross  Hall,  was  praising 
God,  and  speaking  of  the  love  of  our  dear  Redeemer.  He  took  oppor- 
tunities of  speaking  to  every  one  in  the  family,  concerning  the  state  of 
their  souls,  and  of  giving  them  suitable  directions.  At  other  times,  he 
met  us  all  together,  and  exhorted  us.  Our  daily  meals  were  like  sacra- 
ments. When  he  drank  to  any  one,  it  was,  ‘ Heavenly  health  ! ’ or 
‘ The  cup  of  salvation  !’  At,  or  after  each  meal,  he  generally  began,  or 
called  upon  us  to  begin,  to  sing — 

‘ Still,  O my  soul,  prolong 
The  never-ceasing  song ! 

Christ  my  theme,  my  hope,  my  joy  ! 

His  be  all  my  happy  days  ! 

Praise  my  every  hour  employ  : 

Every  breath  be  spent  in  praise  ! ’ 

Thus  did  he  walk  with  God,  filled  with  the  Spirit:  confirming  his 
love  to  all  the  family,  and  caring  for  both  their  spiritual  and  temporal 
concerns.  He  preached  in  many  places  while  in  Yorkshire,  and  to 
numerous  congregations.  Many  were  blest  thereby ; some  convinced 
of  sin  ; others  comforted.  Whenever  he  either  preached  or  conversed, 
the  comforts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  were  multiplied. 

“Monday,  November  12,  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  marriage. 
On  the  morning  of  this  day,  several  friends  met  together.  They  reached 
Cross  Hall  before  family  prayers.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  dressed  in  his 
canonicals.  After  giving  out  one  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  marriage  hymns,  he 
read  Rev.  xix.  7,  8,  9,  ‘ Let  us  be  glad,  and  rejoice,  and  give  honour 
to  Him  ; for  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  is  come,  and  his  wife  hath  made 
herself  ready.  And  to  her  was  granted  that  she  should  be  arrayed  in 
fine  linen,  clean  and  white ; for  the  fine  linen  is  the  righteousness  of 
saints.  And  he  saith  unto  me.  Write,  Blessed  are  they  which  are 
called  unto  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.  And  he  saith  unto  me. 
These  are  the  true  sayings  of  God.’  Mr.  Fletcher  then  spoke  from 
these  verses,  in  such  a manner  as  greatly  tended  to  spiritualize  the 
solemnities  of  the  day.  He  said,  ‘We  invite  you  to  our  wedding  ; but 
the  Holy  Ghost  invites  you  to  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb.  The  bride, 
the  Lamb’s  wife,  represents  the  whole  Church,  triumphant  and  militant 
united  together.  You  may  all  be  the  Bride,  and  Jesus  will  condescend 
to  be  the  Bridegroom.  Make  yourselves  ready  by  being  filled  with  the 
Spirit.’  He  then  engaged  in  prayer,  and  said,  ‘Lord,  thou  knowest 
we  would  not  take  this  step,  if  we  had  not  eternity  in  view,  and  if  we 
were  not  as  willing  to  be  carried  into  the  churchyard,  as  to  go  into  the 
church.’  At  breakfast,  he  remarked,  ‘ The  postilions  are  now  ready  to 


496 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


carry  us  to  the  church ; hut  death  will  soon  be  here  to  carry  us  to  the 
marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.’ 

On  the  way  to  Batley  Church,  which  was  nearly  two  miles  distant, 
he  spoke  much  of  the  mystery  represented  by  marriage,  namely  the 
union  between  Christ  and  His  Church.  They  were  married  in  the  face 
of  the  congregation  : the  doors  were  opened,  and  everyone,  came  in  that 
would.  We  then  returned  home,  and  spent  a considerable  time  in  sing- 
ing and  prayer.  There  were  nearly  twenty  of  us.  I then  presented 
Mrs.  Fletcher  with  some  wedding  hymns.  She  looked  over  them,  and 
gave  them  to  Mr.  Fletcher.  He  read  the  Scripture  text  at  the  top, 
namely,  ' Husbands,  love  your  wives,  as  Christ  loved  the  Church.’  Then 
turning  to  the  company,  he  said,  ‘ My  God,  what  a task  ! Help  me,  my 
friends,  by  your  prayers,  to  fulfil  it.  As  Christ  loved  the  Church  ! He 
laid  aside  His  glory  for  the  Church  ; He  submitted  to  be  born  into  our 
world ; to  be  clothed  with  a human  body,  subject  to  all  our  sinless 
infirmities ; He  endured  shame,  contempt,  pain,  yea,  death  itself  for 
His  Church  ! O my  God,  none  is  able  to  fulfil  this  task,  without  Thine 
Almighty  aid  ! Help  me,  O my  God  ! Pray  for  me,  O my  friends  ! 

‘‘He  next  read,  ‘Wives,  submit  yourselves  to  your  own  husbands.’ 
Mrs.  Fletcher  added,  ‘As  unto  the  Lord.’  'Well,  my  dear,’  returned 
Mr.  Fletcher,  ‘ only  in  the  Lord.  And  if  ever  I wish  you  to  do  any- 
thing otherwise,  resist  me  with  all  your  might.’ 

“ From  dinner,  which  was  a spiritual  meal  as  well’  as  a natural  one, 
until  tea-time,  our  time  was  chiefly  spent  in  prayer  or  singing.  After 
singing  the  covenant  hymn,  Mr.  Fletcher  went  to  Mrs.  Fletcher,  and 
said  to  her,  ‘Well,  my  dearest  friend,  will  you  unite  with  me  in  joining 
ourselves  in  a perpetual  covenant  to  the  Lord  ? Will  you  with  me  serve 
Him  in  His  members  ? Will  you  help  me  to  bring  souls  to  the  Blessed 
Redeemer?  And,  in  every  possible  way,  this  day  lay  yourself  under 
the  strongest  ties  you  can,  to  help  me  to  glorify  my  gracious  Lord  ? 
She  answered,  ' May  my  God  help  me  so  to  do  ! ’ 

“ In  the  evening,  Mr.  Valton  ^ preached  in  the  hall,  from,  ‘What  shall 
I render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  His  benefits  ? I will  take  the  cup  of  sal- 
vation, and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.’  His  words  did  not  fall  to 
the  ground  ; many  were  greatly  refreshed.  After  the  preaching,  there 
was  a sweet  contest  among  us  : every  one  thought,  ‘ I,  in  particular,  owe 
the  greatest  debt  of  praise  ; ’ at  length  we  agreed  to  sing, — 


1 John  Valton,  one  of  Wesley’s  Preachers,  then  in  the  seventh  year 
of  his  itinerancy,  and  labouring  in  the  Birstal  Circuit.  He  wrote  : “ On 
the  12th  of  November,  1781,  Mr.  Fletcher  stole  hallowed  fire  from  my 
people,  by  taking  away  Miss  Bosanquet.  I and  a few  friends  accom- 
panied them  to  Batley  Church.  Surely,  such  a blessed  wedding  I never 
knew  before.  By  request,  I improved  the  occasion  in  the  evening,  from 
these  words,  ' What  shall  we  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  His  benefits  ? 
I will  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call  upon  His  name.’  It  was  a 
refreshing  time  ; and  many  prayers  were  offered  that  eternal  blessings 
might  crown  the  devoted  pair.”  (“Life  of  the  Rev.  John  Valton,” 
p.  104.) 


Age  52.] 


Wesley's  Letter  to  Fletcher. 


497 


* I’ll  praise  my  Maker,  while  I’ve  breath, 

And  when  my  voice  is  lost  in  death. 

Praise  shall  employ  my  nobler  powers  : 

My  days  of  praise  shall  ne’er  be  past. 

While  life,  and  thought,  and  being  last, 

Or  immortality  endures.’  ” ^ 

Is  there  on  record  another  wedding  day  such  as  this  ? 
To  criticise  the  account  would  spoil  it.  It  may,  however, 
interest  the  reader  to  give  a verbatim  copy  of  the  marriage 
certificate  : — 

‘‘No.  1 12.  John  William  Fletcher,  of  the  parish  of  Madeley,  in  the 
county  of  Salop,  Clerk,  and  Mary  Bosanquet,  of  this  parish,  were  mar- 
ried in  this  church  (Batley)  by  license,  this  twelfth  day  of  November,  in 
the  year  1781,  by  me,  John  Deighton,  Curate. 

“This  marriage  was  solemnized  between  us,  John  William  Fletcher, 
or  De  la  Flechere,  and  Mary  Bosanquet,  in  the  presence  of  William 
Smith  and  Ann  Tripp.” 

Twelve  days  after  the  marriage,  Wesley  wrote  to  Fletcher 
the  following  characteristic  letter  : — 

“London,  November  24,  1781. 

“ Dear  Sir, — There  is  not  a person  to  whom  I would  have  wished 
Miss  Bosanquet  joined  besides  you.  But  this  union,  I am  thoroughly 
persuaded,  is  of  God ; and  so  are  all  the  children  of  God  with  whom 
I have  spoken.  Mr.  Bosanquet’ s being  so  agreeable  to  it,  I look  upon 
as  a token  for  good  ; and  so  was  the  ready  disposing  of  the  house  and 
stock,  which  otherwise  would  have  been  a great  encumbrance. 

“ From  the  first  day  which  you  spend  together  at  Madeley,  I hope 
you  will  lay  down  an  exactly  regular  plan  of  living ; something  like  that 
of  the  happy  family  at  Leytonstone.  Let  your  light  shine  to  all  that 
are  round  about  you.  And  let  Sister  Fletcher  do  as  much  as  she  can 
for  God,  and  no  more.  To  His  care  I commit  you  both,  and  am,  my 
dear  friends, 

“ Your  very  affectionate  brother, 

“John  Wesley.”^ 

A curious  letter  to  be  written  to  a man  on  his  being 
married  ; but  Wesley  and  Fletcher  were  far  too  earnest, 
and  were  engaged  in  far  too  great  a work,  to  permit  them 
to  write  commonplace  and  empty  congratulations. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Fletcher,  after  his  marriage,  was 


^ Wesley’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 

^ Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xii.,  p.  154. 

32 


498 


TVesiey's  Designated  Successor. 


[1781. 


to  make  a settlement  of  his  own  monetary  matters.  The 
following  is  an  exact  copy  of  his  will,  written  by  himself : — 

‘^This  is  the  last  Will  and  Testament  of  John  William  Fletcher, 
Vicar  of  Madeley,  in  the  County  of  Salop,  whereby  I give  and  bequeath 
to  my  dear  wife,  Mary  Fletcher,  all  my  personal  estate,  of  what  nature 
or  kind  soever,  in  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  for  her  own  use  and 
benefit. 

‘‘With  regard  to  my  personal  estate  in  Switzerland,  I give  and 
bequeath  it  all  to  my  second  brother,  Henry  de  la  Fletcher,  assessor 
to  the  Lord  Bailie,  at  Nyon,  in  the  Canton  of  Berne,  on  condition  that 
he  or  his  heirs  will  take  care  to  pay  to  my  said  dear  wife,  Maiy  Fletcher, 
or  order,  the  income  or  produce  of  that  personal  estate  during  the  term 
of  her  natural  life  ; and,  in  case  my  said  brother  or  his  heirs  do  not 
fulfil  this  condition,  according  to  the  tenour  of  this  Will,  then  my  said 
wife  shall  sell,  or  cause  to  be  sold,  that  my  said  personal  estate  in 
Switzerland,  for  her  own  use  and  benefit ; and  get  the  money  over  to 
England,  on  condition  that  she  shall  pay  one  hundred  crowns  to  the 
poor  of  Nyon,  in  the  said  Canton  of  Berne. ^ 

“ And  I do  hereby  appoint  my  said  dear  wife  sole  executrix  of  this  my 
last  Will  and  Testament.  In  witness  whereof  I have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  and  seal  this  24th  of  December,  1781. 

“John  William  Fletcher,  or  De  la  Flechere. 

“ Signed  and  sealed  by  the  Testator,  and  by  him  declared  to  be  his 
last  Will  and  Testament,  in  the  presence  of  us, 

“John  Valton. 

“ Richard  Taylor. 
“Thomas  Garforth.’'^ 

Fletcher's  marriage  was,  in  all  respects,  a happy  one.  He 
was  thankful  for  his  wife,  and  proud  of  her.  Hence  the 
following  letter  to  '‘The  Hon.  Mrs.  C 

“Cross  Hall,  Yorkshire,  December  26,  1781. 

“ My  Very  Dear  Friend, — Your  favour  of  the  4th  instant  did  not 
reach  me  until  a considerable  time  after  date,  through  my  being  still 
absent  from  Madeley ; a clergyman  of  this  neighbourhood  having  made 


* Fletcher’s  relatives  in  Switzerland  most  faithfully  fulfilled  this  part 
of  Fletcher’s  Will.  In  an  unpublished  letter  to  Mrs.  Crosby,  dated 
June  20,  1786,  his  widow  wrote  : — 

“My  brother  Henry  possesses  so  much  of  the  spirit  of  my  dear 
husband,  that  his  care  of  me  exceeds  all  imagination.  The  family 
have  sent  me  a bond,  laying  in  their  own  estates  as  security  to  forward 
me  the  whole  produce  every  year.  I do  not  yet  know  exactly  what  it 
will  be ; but  it  is  far  better  than  I thought ; and  so  is  everything  in 
which  my  dearest  Mr.  Fletcher  has  been  concerned.” 

^ The  Wesley  Banner,  1850,  p.  314. 


Age  52.]  Fletcher's  Letter  respecting  his  Marriage.  499 


an  exchange  with  me,  to  facilitate  my  settling  some  temporal  affairs  in 
this  county. 

“The  kind  part  you  take  in  my  happiness  demands  my  warmest 
thanks  ; and  I beg  you  will  accept  them,  multiplied  by  those  which  my 
dear  partner  presents  to  you.  Yes,  my  dear  friend,  I am  married  in  my 
old  age,  and  have  a new  opportunity  of  considering  a great  mystery,  in 
the  most  perfect  type  of  our  Lord’s  mystical  union  with  His  Church. 
I have  now  a new  call  to  pray  for  a fulness  of  Christ’s  holy,  gentle, 
meek,  loving  Spirit,  that  I may  love  my  wife,  as  He  loved  His  spouse, 
the  Church.  But  the  emblem  is  greatly  deficient : the  Lamb  is  worthy 
of  His  spouse,  and  more  than  worthy ; whereas  I must  acknowledge 
myself  unworthy  of  the  yoke-fellow,  whom  heaven  has  reserved  for  me. 
She  is  a person  after  my  own  heart ; and,  I make  no  doubt,  we  shall 
increase  the  number  of  the  happy  marriages  in  the  Church  militant. 

“Indeed,  they  are  not  so  many,  but  it  may  be  worth  a Christian’s 
while  to  add  one  more  to  the  number.  God  declared  it  was  not  good 
that  man,  a social  being,  should  live  alone,  and,  therefore,  He  gave 
him  a help-meet  for  him.  For  the  same  reason,  our  Lord  sent  forth  His 
disciples  two  and  two.  Had  I searched  the  three  kingdoms,  I could 
not  have  found  one  brother  willing  to  share  gratis  my  weal,  woe,  and 
labours,  and  complaisant  enough  to  unite  his  fortunes  to  mine ; but 
God  has  found  me  a partner,  a sister^  a wife^  to  use  St.  Paul’s  lan- 
guage, who  is  not  afraid  to  face  with  me  the  colliers  and  bargemen  of 
my  parish,  until  death  part  us. 

“ Buried  together  in  our  country  village,  we  shall  help  one  another  to 
trim  our  lamps,  and  wait  for  the  coming  of  the  heavenly  Bridegroom.”  i 

Before  leaving  this  memorable  year,  1781,  it  must  be 
added  that,  twenty  days  after  Fletcher’s  marriage,  his  be- 
loved friend  and  travelling  companion,  William  Perronet, 
died,  on  his  way  to  England,  at  Douay.  Three  months 
before  this  event  took  place,  Fletcher  remarked,  in  a letter 
to  William  Perronet’s  venerable  father  : — 

“ Madeley,  September  4,  1781.  I have  been  for  some  weeks  in  York- 
shire, chiefly  at  the  house  of  an  old  friend  of  mine.  Miss  Bosanquet, 
whose  happy  family  put  me  in  mind  of  yours.  At  my  return  home,  I 
have  found  a letter  from  my  brother,  who  informs  me  that  my  dear 
friend,  your  son,  continues  very  weak.  He  is  now  at  Gimel,  a fine 
village  between  Lausanne  and  Geneva,  where  Miss  Perronet’s  sister  is 
settled.  There  he  rides,  and  drinks  ass’s  milk,  and  breathes  the  purest 
air.  Mrs.  Perronet  is  there  with  her  two  daughters,  so  that  if  the  illness 
of  my  dear  friend  should  grow  more  grievous,  he  will  not  want  for  good 
attendance  and  the  most  tender  nursing.”^ 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  281. 

^ Methodist  Magazine y 1817,  p.  864. 


500 


Wesky s Designated  Successor, 


[1781. 


Now,  in  another  letter  to  the  father  of  William  Perronet, 
Fletcher  wrote  : — 

I condole  with  you,  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  about  the  death  of  my  dear 
friend  and  your  dear  son.  We  shall  one  day  see  why  our  heavenly 
Father  made  your  sons  go  before  you,  and  my  kind  physician  before 
me.  About  the  time  he  died,  so  far  as  I can  find  by  your  kind  letter,  a 
strong  concern  about  him  fell  upon  me  by  day  and  by  night,  insomuch 
that  I could  not  help  waking  my  wife  to  join  me  in  praying  for  him  ; 
and  at  once  that  concern  ceased,  nor  have  I since  had  any  such  spiritual 
feeling,  whence  I concluded  that  the  conflict  I supposed  my  friend  to  be 
in  was  ended.  But  how  surprised  was  I to  find  it  was  by  death  / Well, 
whether  Paul  or  Apollo s,  or  life  or  death,  all  things  are  ours  through 
Jesus,  who  knows  howto  bring  good  out  of  evil,  and  howto  blow  us  into 
the  harbour  by  a cross  wind,  or  even  by  a dreadful  storm.’ ^ ‘ 


Benson’s  ^^Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  52.] 


A Prolonged  Service. 


501 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

TWO  YEARS  OF  MARRIED  LIFE  AT  MADELEY, 

1782  AND  1783. 

IN  a letter  to  an  aristocratic  friend  in  London,  Fletcher 
began  the  year  1782  as  follows  : — 

January  i,  1782.  I live,  blessed  be  God,  to  devote  myself  again  to 
His  blessed  service  in  this  world  or  in  the  next,  and  to  wish  my  dear 
friends  all  the  blessings  of  a year  of  jubilee.  Whatever  this  year  brings 
forth,  may  it  bring  us  the  fullest  measures  of  salvation  attainable  on 
earth,  and  the  most  complete  preparation  for  heaven. 

‘‘  I have  a solemn  call  to  gird  my  loins  and  keep  my  lamp  burning. 
Strangely  restored  to  health  and  strength  (considering  my  years),  I 
have  ventured  to  preach  of  late  as  often  as  I did  formerly ; and  after 
having  read  prayers  and  preached  twice  on  Christmas-day,  I did,  last 
Sunday,  what  I had  never  done, — I continued  doing  duty  from  ten 
o’clock  in  the  morning  till  after  four  in  the  afternoon.  This  was  owing 
to  christenings,  churchings,  and  the  sacrament,  which  I administered 
to  a church  full  of  people,.^  so  that  I was  obliged  to  go  from  the  com- 
munion table  to  begin  the  evening  service,  and  then  to  visit  some  sick. 
This  has  brought  back  upon  me  one  of  my  old,  dangerous  symptoms  ; 
so  I have  flattered  myself  in  vain  that  I should  be  able  to  do  the  whole 
duty  of  my  own  parish.  My  dear  wife  is  nursing  me  with  the  tenderest 
care  ; gives  me  up  to  God  with  the  greatest  resignation  ; and  helps  me 
to  rejoice  that  life  and  death,  health  and  sickness,  work  for  our  good, 
and  are  all  ours,  as  blessed  means  to  forward  us  in  our  journey  to 
heaven. 

We  intend  to  set  out  for  Madeley  to-morrow.  The  prospect  of  a 
winter’s  journey  is  not  sweet;  but  the  prospect  of  meeting  you,  and 
your  dear  sister,  and  Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald,  and  all  our  other  com- 
panions in  tribulation  in  heaven,  is  delightful.  If  Lady  Huntingdon  is 
in  London,  I beg  you  to  present  my  duty  to  her,  with  my  best  wishes.”  ^ 


^ No  doubt  this  six  hours’  continuous  service  took  place  in  the  parish 
church,  Bradford. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  283. 


502 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1782. 


Fletcher  and  his  bride  left  Cross  Hall  on  Wednesday, 
January  2,  1782.  Mrs.  Fletcher  wrote: — 

1782,  January  2.  We  set  out  for  Madeley.  Where  shall  I begin 
my  song  of  praise  ? What  a turn  is  there  in  all  my  affairs  ! From 
what  a depth  of  sorrow,  distress,  and  perplexity  am  I delivered  ! How 
shall  I find  language  to  express  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  ! I know  no 
want  but  that  of  more  grace.  I have  a husband,  in  everything  suited 
to  me.  He  bears  with  all  my  faults  and  failings  in  a manner  that  con- 
tinually reminds  me  of  the  text,  ‘ Love  your  wives,  as  Christ  loved  the 
Church.’  His  constant  endeavour  is  to  make  me  happy  ; his  strongest 
desire  is  for  my  spiritual  growth.  He  is,  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
the  man  my  highest  reason  chooses  to  obey.  I am  also  happy  in  a 
servant  ^ whom  I took  from  the  side  of  her  mother’s  coffin  when  she  was 
four  years  old.  She  loves  us  as  if  we  were  her  parents,  and  is  also  truly 
devoted  to  God.”  ^ 

On  January  6,  Fletcher  and  his  wife  spent  their  first 
Sunday  at  Madeley.  Seventeen  years  afterwards,  Mrs. 
Fletcher  remarked  : — 

The  first  Sabbath  after  I came  to  Madeley  my  dear  husband  took 
me  into  the  kitchen,  where  his  people  were  assembled  to  partake  of 
refreshment  between  the  times  of  worship.  He  introduced  me  to  them, 
saying,  ‘ I have  not  married  this  wife  for  myself  only,  but  for  your  sakes 
also.’  ” 

And  then  the  happy  throng  sang  the  hymn  beginning  with 
the  verse — 

“ Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  blow 
The  gladly  solemn  sound  ; 

Let  all  the  nations  know. 

To  earth’s  remotest  bound  ; 

The  year  of  jubilee  is  come  ! 

Return,  ye  ransomed  sinners,  home.” 

A few  weeks  after  this,  Wesley  paid  his  friends  a visit  of 
one  day  and  two  nights.  He  says  : — 

1782.  Saturday,  March  23.  It  was  with  a good  deal  of  difficulty 
that  we  got  ” [from  Kidderminster]  to  Bridgenorth,  much  of  the  road 
being  blocked  up  with  snow.  In  the  afternoon,  we  had  another  kind  of 
difficulty  ; the  roads  were  so  rough  and  so  deep  that  we  were  in  danger, 
every  now  and  then,  of  leaving  our  wheels  behind  us.  But,  by  adding- 
two  horses  to  my  own,  at  length  we  got  safe  to  Madeley. 


^ Sarah  Lawrence. 

2 Benson’s  “Life  of  Fletcher.” 


Age  52.] 


Wesley  visits  Madeley, 


503 


Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fletcher  complained  that,  after  all  the  pains 
they  had  taken  they  could  not  prevail  on  the  people  to  join  in  Society ; 
no,  nor  even  to  meet  in  class.  Resolved  to  try,  I preached  to  a crowded 
audience  on  ‘ I am  not  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.’  I followed 
the  blow  in  the  afternoon  by  strongly  applying  those  words,  ‘ Awake, 
thou  that  sleepest ; ’ and  then  enforcing  the  necessity  of  Christian  fellow- 
ship on  all  who  desired  either  to  awake  or  keep  awake.  I then  desired 
those  that  were  willing  to  join  together  for  this  purpose  to  call  upon  me 
and  Mr.  Fletcher  after  service.  Ninety-four  or  ninety-five  persons  did 
so — about  as  many  men  as  women.  We  explained  to  them  the  nature 
of  a Christian  Society,  and  they  willingly  joined  therein.”  ^ 

Methodist  preachers,  for  some  time  past,  had  preached  in 
Madeley  Wood,  Coalbrookdale,  and  other  adjacent  places, 
and  here  Society  Classes  seem  to  have  been  formed  ; but,  up 
to  the  present,  the  Methodist  people  at  Madeley  had  refused 
to  meet  in  class.  Henceforth,  it  was  different.  This  altered 
state  of  things  was  owing  partly  to  Wesley  and  to  Fletcher, 
but  chiefly  to  Fletcher's  devoted  wife. 

At  the  time  of  Wesley's  visit,  there  was  living  at  Little 
Dawley,  near  Madeley,  a child  nearly  four  years  old,  who, 
nineteen  years  afterwards,  became  a Methodist  Itinerant 
Preacher,  and  who,  in  1879,  died  in  the  one  hundred  and 
first  year  of  his  age — the  tall,  stalwart,  grand  old  William 
Tranter.  Naturally,  Mr.  Tranter  loved  Madeley,  and  affec- 
tionately cherished  the  memory  of  Fletcher  and  his  wife.  In 
an  article  published  forty-five  years  ago,  he  wrote  : — 

When  Mr.  Wesley’s  preachers  came  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Made- 
ley,  Mr.  Fletcher  hospitably  received  those  laborious  servants  of  God 
into  his  house  ; the  vicarage  kitchen,  before  consecrated  by  his  prayers, 
was  now  further  consecrated  by  their  earnest  and  faithful  preaching ; 
the  Vicar  of  Madeley  himself  being  one  of  their  humblest  and  most 
prayerful  hearers.  The  kitchen  becoming  too  small,  a barn  on  the 
premises  was  neatly  fitted  up  for  a preaching  room.  In  this  place,  the 
Methodist  travelling  preachers,  and  the  curate  of  the  parish,  regularly 
preached  the  Word  of  God.  Here,  also,  Mrs.  Fletcher,  after  the  removal 
of  her  holy  husband  to  his  heavenly  rest,  held  her  meetings  for  expo- 
sition of  the  Scriptures,  religious  experience,  and  prayer.  Surviving  her 
husband  many  years”  (thirty),  she  lived  a widow  indeed,  doing  good 
to  all  around  her,  and  winning  the  veneration  and  love  of  rich  and  poor, 
not  only  in  the  village  and  parish  of  Madeley,  and  in  the  adjoining 
parishes,  but  in  all  places  where  she  was  known,  and  to  which  the  fame 
of  her  piety  and  charity  had  extended.  The  rector  not  only  allowed  her 


^ Wesley’s  Journal. 


504 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1782. 


to  remain  in  the  vicarage-house,  undisturbed  during  life,  but  allowed 
her  to  choose  the  curate  by  whom  the  duties  of  the  living  were  to  be 
performed  ; assigning  as  his  reason,  that  she  knew  better  than  himself 
what  would  suit  and  benefit  the  parishioners.  Besides  exercising  pub- 
licly, at  stated  times,  in  the  vicarage  room,  she  occasionally  visited 
Madeley  Wood,  Coalbrookdale,  Coalport,  and  other  places  more  distant, 
at  which  times  the  chapels  were  usually  crowded  with  delighted  and 
profited  hearers.  To  her  house,  the  Itinerant  Preachers  continued  to 
come  to  the  end  of  her  earthly  sojourn.  Here  they  always  found  a hearty 
welcome,  and  a delightful  home.  Several  lovely  Societies  were  formed, 
others  were  augmented,  hundreds  of  souls  were  converted,  Christian 
believers  were  edified  and  blessed,  the  fruit  of  Mr.  Fletcher^  s ministry 
was  preserved,  and  Madeley  became  the  rendezvous  for  religious  persons 
and  purposes — a privileged,  honoured  place, — a sort  of  Christian  Jeru- 
salem. It  was  not  uncommon  to  see  two,  three,  or  more  clergymen, 
pious  and  able  men,  from  neighbouring  and  even  distant  parishes,  among 
the  congregation  at  her  week-night  lectures.  On  the  Sabbath,  the 
pious  people,  living  at  the  distance  of  from  one  to  four  miles  from 
Madeley,  usually  arrived  in  time  for  her  morning  meeting,  at  nine  o’clock ; 
and,  from  there,  they  went  to  the  parish  church  close  at  hand.  At  noon , 
respectable  strangers,  visiting  Madeley  for  religious  purposes,  were 
usually  invited  to  dine  with  her  at  the  vicarage ; the  poor,  living  too 
far  off  to  allow  them  to  return  from  their  own  houses  for  the  after 
services  of  the  day,  partook,  if  so  disposed,  of  her  hospitalities  in  the 
vicarage-kitchen  ; others,  having  brought  their  provisions  with  them, 
were  seen,  in  fine  weather,  in  little  companies  in  the  fields,  engaged  in 
heavenly  conversation  and  prayer ; and  others  of  the  respectable  portion 
of  these  pious  people,  had,  in  an  apartment  to  themselves,  a cheap 
family  dinner  provided  at  the  village  inn.  On  the  ringing  of  a bell,  at 
one  o’clock,  all  assembled  at  Mrs.  Fletcher’s  meeting,  when  she  was 
accustomed  to  read  the  life  of  some’  eminently  holy  man,  and  make 
remarks  upon  it ; then  they  adjourned  to  the  church,  for  the  afternoon 
service  there,  and  sermon  ; after  which  they  repaired  to  their  respective 
homes,  and  attended  their  own  meeting-houses,  at  one  or  other  of  which 
the  Curate  of  Madeley  officiated  every  Sabbath  evening,  as  well  as 
occasionally  on  the  week-days,  always  announcing  at  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  service  in  the  church,  the  chapel  in  which  he  would  preach 
that  evening.  This  plan  was  adopted  by  Mr.  Fletcher,  and  was  followed 
by  his  evangelical  and  pious  successors,  for  upwards  of  forty  years.”  ^ 

The  godly  reader  will  easily  forgive  this  rich  digression, 
and  will  be  inclined  to  sing,  with  Charles  Wesley  : — 

‘‘  Meek,  simple  followers  of  the  Lamb, 

They  lived,  and  spake,  and  thought  the  same  ; 

They  joyfully  conspired  to  raise 
Their  ceaseless  sacrifice  of  praise. 


^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine^  P*  903* 


Age  52.] 


A Modern  Visit  to  Madeley. 


505 


‘‘  With  grace  abundantly  endued, 

A pure,  believing  multitude. 

They  all  were  of  one  heart  and  soul. 

And  only  love  inspired  the  whole. 

‘ ‘ O what  an  age  of  golden  days  ! 

O what  a choice,  peculiar  race  ! 

Washed  in  the  Lamb’s  all-cleansing  blood. 

Anointed  kings  and  priests  to  God ! ” ^ 

Madeley  will  long  continue  to  be  a kind  of  Mecca  to  the 
Methodists.  Many  years  ago,  the  present  writer,  in  company 
with  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Jobson,  visited  it.  They  met  with 
the  utmost  courtesy,  the  lady  of  the  Vicar  showing  them 
everything  likely  to  interest  a Methodist.  She  had  a lock 
of  Fletcher’s  silky  hair,  which  she  greatly  prized.  They  were 
taken  into  Fletcher’s  study,  about  nine  feet  by  twelve  in  size, 
and  had  pointed  out  to  them  a portion  of  the  wall,  still 
stained  with  Fletcher’s  breathings  while  engaged  in  prayer. 
The  old  barn-chapel  was  no  longer  in  existence,  but,  near  to 
its  site,  there  was  a small  building,  containing  its  pulpit, 
brass  lamps,  and  prayer-book,  together  v/ith  the  small  oaken 
communion  table  at  which  Fletcher  celebrated  his  last  sacra- 
ment. The  vicarage,  a respectable  old  edifice,  had  beautiful 
gardens  and  grounds  attached  to  it ; and  the  parish  church, 
built  upon  the  site  of  the  small  old  church,  in  which  Fletcher 
ministered  to  crowded  congregations, contained  several  memen- 
toes to  remind  visitors  of  its  memorable  vicar.  The  steps 
leading  both  to  the  reading-desk  and  pulpit  were  those  which 
Fletcher  used  to  tread  ; and,  in  a small  vestry,  was  preserved 
the  register  of  all  the  baptisms,  marriages,  and  deaths  during 
his  incumbency,  and  showing  that  his  last  baptism  was  on 
July  29,  1785,  six  weeks  before  his  death.  The  old  church, 
in  which  Fletcher  preached,  would  hold  five  hundred  ; the 
present  one,  built  in  1794,  will  seat  about  a thousand  ; and, 
since  its  erection,  two  others  have  been  built  in  other  parts  of 
the  parish.  Besides  these,  the  following  Wesleyan  Methodist 
chapels  have  been  built:  one  in  Court  Street,  Madeley,  holding 
eight  hundred;  another,  of  the  same  size,  in  Madeley  Wood; 

* Deep  indentations  in  the  stone  pillars  of  the  vicarage  gate  still 
exist,  occasioned  by  the  Sunday  visitors  to  Madeley  sharpening  their 
knives  to  eat  their  dinners.  (Randall’s  “Lives  and  Usefulness  of  the 
Rev.  J.  and  Mary  Fletcher,”  p.  33.) 


5o6 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor, 


[1782. 


another,  half  the  size,  in  Coalbrookdale  ; and  a fourth  at 
Coalport,  capable  of  containing  two  hundred.  And  to  these 
may  be  added  two  chapels,  at  Madeley  and  Madeley  Wood, 
belonging  to  the  Methodist  New  Connexion;  and  another 
belonging  to  the  Primitive  Methodists. 

It  is  time  to  return  to  Fletcher.  Among  the  first  Metho- 
dists in  Ireland  were  Henry  and  Robert  Brooke,  who,  up  to 
the  year  1758,  resided  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Rantavan. 
Henry  became  the  far-famed  author  of  “The  Fool  of  Quality  ; 
or,  The  History  of  Henry,  Earl  of  Moreland  published,  in 
five  volumes,  1766 — 1770  ; and  of  other  ably-written  books, 
which  gained  him  the  friendship  of  Pope,  Swift,  and  several 
more  of  the  literati  of  his  age.  He  married  a young  lady,  to 
whom  he  was  guardian,  when  she  was  thirteen  years  of  age, 
by  whom  he  had  seventeen  children,  only  two  of  whom 
survived  him,  when  he  died  in  1783.  His  brother  Robert 
had  three  children  : Henry,  the  eldest,  who,  for  about  forty 
years,  was  one  of  the  leading  Methodists  in  Dublin  ; Robert, 
the  second,  a colonel  in  the  army  ; and  Thomas  Digby,  the 
youngest,  also  connected  with  the  Dublin  Methodist  Society. 
In  the  year  1772,  Henry  wrote  to  Fletcher;  Fletcher  mistook 
the  nephew  for  the  uncle,  whose  “ Fool  of  Quality  had 
recently  been  completed  ; and  this  amusing  mistake  led 
Fletcher  to  address  to  the  famous  author  the  following 
valuable  epistle  : — 

‘‘  Madeley,  Se;ptember  6,  1772. 

Dear  Sir, — I cannot  tell  you  how  often  I have  thought  of  thanking 
you  for  your  kind  letter.  My  controversy  made  me  put  it  off  some 
time,  and,  when  I was  going  one  day  to  answer  you,  a clergyman  called 
upon  me,  read  your  letter,  said  you  were  a sensible  author,  and,  if  I 
would  let  him  have  it,  he  would  let  me  have  your  ‘ Fool  of  Quality,’  of 
which  I had  never  heard.  I forgot  to  take  your  address ; but,  after 
some  months,  my  friend  has  sent  me  back  your  unexpected  and  welcome 
favour ; and  I now  know  in  what  street  you  live.  A thousand  thanks 
for  your  letter.  May  this  sheet  convey  them  from  my  heart  to  yours  ; 
and  thence  may  they  fall,  like  a thousand  drops,  into  that  immense 
ocean  of  goodness,  truth,  and  love,  whence  come  all  the  streams,  which 
gladden  the  universe  of  God  ! 

I thankfully  accept  the  pleasure,  profit,  and  honour  of  your  corre- 
spondence. But  I must  not  deceive  you  ; I have  not  yet  learned  the 
blessed  precept  of  our  Lord  in  respect  of  writing  and  receiving  letters. 
I still  find  it  more  blessed  to  receive^  than  to  give ; and,  till  I have  got 


Age  s2.]  Letter  to  Author  The  Fool  of  Quality."  507 


out  of  this  selfishness,  never  depend  on  a letter  from  me  till  you  see  it, 
and  be  persuaded,  nevertheless,  that  one  from  you  will  always  be  welcome. 

“ I see,  by  your  works,  that  you  love  truth,  and  that  you  will  force 
your  way,  through  all  the  barriers  of  prejudice,  to  embrace  it  in  its 
meanest  dress.  That  makes  me  love  you.  I hope  to  improve  by  your 
example  and  your  lessons.  One  thing  I want  truly  to  learn,  that  is, 
that  creatures  and  visible  things  are  but  shadows,  and  that  God  is  God, 
Jehovah,  the  true,  eternal  Substance.  To  live  practically  in  this  truth 
is  to  live  in  the  suburbs  of  heaven.  Really  to  believe  that  in  God  we 
live,  move,  and  have  our  being,  is  to  find  and  enjoy  the  root  of  our 
existence : it  is  to  slide  from  self  into  our  original  principle ; from  the 
carnal  into  the  spiritual ; from  the  visible  into  the  invisible  ; from  time 
into  eternity.  Give  me,  at  your  leisure,  some  directions,  how  to  cease 
from  busying  myself  about  the  husks  of  things,  and  how  to  break  through 
the  shell,  so  that  I may  come  to  the  kernel  of  resurrection,  life,  and 
power,  that  lies  hidden  from  the  unbeliever’s  sight. 

About  feelings.  Pray,  my  dear  Sir,  are  you  possessed  of  all  the 
feelings  of  your  Clinton,  Clement,  and  Harry  ? Are  they  natural  to  you, 
I mean,  previous  to  what  we  generally  call  conversion  ? I have  often 
thought  that  some  of  the  feelings  you  describe  depend  a good  deal  upon 
the  fineness  of  the  nerves,  and  bodily  organs  ; and,  as  I am  rather  of  a 
Stoic  turn,  I have,  sometimes,  comforted  myself  in  thinking,  that  my 
want  of  feelings  might,  in  a degree,  proceed  from  the  dulness  of  Swiss 
nerves.  If  I am  not  mistaken.  Providence  directs  me  to  you  to  have 
this  important  question  solved.  May  not  some  persons  have  as  much 
true  faith,  love,  humanity,  and  pity,  as  others  who  are  ten  times  more 
affected,  at  least  for  a season  ? And  what  directions  would  you  give 
to  a Christian  Stoic,  if  these  two  ideas  are  not  absolutely  incompatible  ? 

‘‘  My  Stoicism  helps  me,  I think,  to  weather  out  a storm  of  displeasure, 
which  my  little  pamphlets  have  raised  against  me.  You  see,  I at  once 
consult  you  as  an  old  friend  and  spiritual  casuist ; nor  know  I how  to 
testify  better  to  you  how  unreservedly  I begin  to  be,  my  very  dear  friend? 

Yours  in  the  Lord, 

‘‘J.  Fletcher.”^ 

Probably  “ The  Fool  of  Quality  ” was  the  only  novel 
Fletcher  ever  read  ; but  it  taught  him  to  respect  its  author. 
It  is  more  than  doubtful,  however,  whether  Fletcher’s  letter 
ever  reached  the  gentleman  for  whom  it  was  intended.  At 
all  events,  there  is  no  evidence  whatever  that  any  corre- 
spondence took  place  between  Henry  Brooke,  senior,  and 
the  Vicar  of  Madeley.  Of  course,  Fletcher’s  communication 
reached  the  nephew  of  Brooke,  and,  nearly  ten  years  after- 
wards, he  and  others  wrote  to  Fletcher,  requesting  him  and 


Letters,  1791,  p.  214. 


5o8 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1782. 


his  newly-wedded  wife  to  visit  the  Methodists  in  Dublin. 
Fletcher  replied  : — 

'‘Madeley,  A^ril  20,  1782. 

‘‘  Dear  Sir, — Last  Saturday,  I received  your  kind  invitation  to  take 
a journey  to  Dublin,  with  my  wife  ; and  we  join  in  sincere  thanks  for 
the  kind  and  generous  offer  which  accompanies  that  invitation. 

Two  reasons,  at  this  time,  concur  to  make  me  postpone  the  accept- 
ing of  it.  Not  to  mention  my  state  of  health,  I have  been  so  long 
absent  from  my  parish,  that  my  parishioners  have  a just  claim  to  my 
stated  labours  for  some  time  ; and  Mr.  Bayley,  my  curate,  being  wanted 
at  Kingswood  School,  I must  serve  my  own  church  myself,  and  the  duty 
is  so  continual  that  I dare  not  go  twenty  miles  from  home,  much  less  to 
a neighbouring  kingdom.  Providence  may,  if  it  be  for  the  glory  of  God, 
make  a way  for  me  to  go,  and  return  my  thanks  in  person.  In  the 
meantime,  I beg  you.  Sir,  to  present  them  to  all  our  brethren,  who  set 
their  hands  to  your  kind  letter. 

“ If  I took  you.  Sir,  for  the  author  of  ‘ The  Fool  of  Quality,^  ^ I thought 
I saw  his  style  in  the  style  of  your  letter ; however,  I was  not  much 
mistaken.  Your  pen  is  nearly  allied  to  his,  as  your  blood  is  to  his. 
May  one  Spirit,  the  humble,  loving  Spirit  of  Jesus,  make  us  all  of  one 
heart  and  soul ! May  we,  notwithstanding  the  channel  which  separates 
our  bodies,  rejoice  that  one  truth  unites  our  souls,  and  that  the  common 
faith  and  love  make  us  join  daily  in  Christ  our  Head  ! So  prays,  dear 
Sir,  your  affectionate  and  obliged  brother  and  servant, 

‘'John  Fletcher.”^ 

Fletcher  and  his  wife  remained  at  Madeley,  and  the  latter 
wrote  : — 

“ May  30,  1782.  I have  the  kindest  and  tenderest  of  husbands;  of 
so  spiritual  a man,  and  so  spiritual  a union,  I had  no  adequate  con- 
ception. He  is  every  way  suited  to  me,  all  I could  wish.  The  work 
among  souls  increases.’^ ^ 

A few  weeks  later,  in  a letter  to  Wesley,  she  said  : — 

“Madeley,  July  7,  1782. 

“Very  Dear  Sir, — I find  a desire  of  informing  you  how  we  go  on. 
The  people  you  joined,  when  here,  are,  I trust,  coming  forward.  I have 
not  conversed  with  the  men ; but  the  women  are  more  in  number  than 
at  that  time.  Some  have  been  clearly  justified,  I think  five  ; and  three 
or  four  are  restored  to  that  communion  with  God,  which  they  had  for 
some  years  lost.  A few  are  athirst  for  a clean  heart ; and,  on  the 


* Two  years  before  this,  Wesley  had  published  his  abridged  edition 
of  “The  Fool  of  Quality,”  in  two  volumes,  i2mo. 

2 Original  Letter. 

^ “ Mrs.  Fletcher's  Life,”  by  H.  Moore. 


Age  52.]  Jkfrs.  Fletcher  and  the  Madeley  Methodists.  509 


whole,  there  is  a good  increase  of  freedom  and  liberty  in  our  class- 
meetings.  We  have  now  also  a band,^  into  which  I gather  the  most 
lively ; all  that  are  newly  blest,  or  that  have  any  light  into  sanctifi- 
cation ; and  we  have  much  of  the  presence  of  God  with  us. 

My  dear  Mr.  Fletcher  spares  no  pains.  I know  not  which  is  greater, 
his  earnest  desire  for  souls,  or  his  patience  in  bearing  with  their  infir- 
mities and  dulness.  His  preaching  is  exceeding  lively ; and  our  sacra- 
ments are  more  like  those  in  the  chapels  of  London  than  any  I have 
seen  since  I left  it.  Yet,  I find  a great  difference  between  the  people 
here  and  those  in  Yorkshire : however,  the  Lord  has  little  ones  here 
also. 

Last  Friday,  after  riding  two  hours  in  the  rain,  we  came  to  a good 
congregation,  where  there  was  neither  house  nor  church  to  cover  us ; 
but  I have  not  seen  more  of  the  Yorkshire  attention  since  I left  that 
county,  nor  had  a more  solemn  time ; though  we  were  under  a wet 
cloud  all  the  while,  and  our  poor  servant  waiting  for  us,  who  brought 
us  safe  home  by  ten  o’clock  the  same  night.  This  is  one  of  the  old 
congregations  which  my  husband  has  visited  for  years ; and  where  he 
joined  (in  Society)  sixty  persons.  Next  Friday,  we  are  to  see  them 
again,  and  he  purposes  to  enquire  into  the  state  of  those  which  remain. 
There  are,  in  many  parts  about  here,  some  serious  hearers,  and  we  wish 
them  all  to  be  brought  into  a regular  discipline.  My  husband  has  been 
at  near  £^00  expense  in  building  a small  Preaching-house,  that,  if  he 
should  be  removed,  they  may  have  a fold  to  prevent  them  from  being 
scattered.  But  were  they  joined  (in  Society)  7tow,  it  would  be  far  more 
likely  to  answer  the  end.  On  this  subject  we  wish  to  have  a little  con- 
versation with  you. 

I am  your  affectionate  servant, 

''Mary  Fletcher.” 

Two  months  after  this,  Fletcher  was  temporarily  disabled 
by  an  accident,  mentioned  in  a long  letter  to  Lady  Mary 
Fitzgerald,  from^which  the  following  is  extracted  : — 

"Madeley,  August  28,  1782. 

"My  Honoured  Friend, — The  Lord  has  peculiar  favours  in  store 
for  your  ladyship,  and  for  me  ; the  proof  is,  that  we  are  afflicted.  Have 
you  been  in  a weak  state  of  health  ? I have  had  the  honour  to  drink  of 
your  cup.  The  influenza  laid  me  down ; and,  when  I was  partly  well, 
I broke  my  shin  against  a bench,  in  consequence  of  which  I am  confined 
by  a bad  leg  to  my  bed,  where  I write  this. 

"You  still  complain  oivile  self.  Let  vile  self  be  reduced  to  order, 
and,  though  he  be  a bad  master,  he  will  become  an  excellent  servant. 
Do  this,  by  letting  the  Lord,  the  Maker,  the  Preserver,  the  Redeemer, 


I A term  well  understood  by  Methodists  : a meeting  of  the  most 
spiritual  people  who  met  in  class. 

^ Arminian  Magazine y 1790,  p.  391. 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1782. 


510 


the  Lover  of  your  soul,  ascend  upon  the  throne  of  your  thoughts,  will, 
and  alfections.  Who  deserves  to  engross  them  better  than  He  does  ? 
Is  not  He  your  first  Lord,  your  best  Husband,  your  most  faithful  Friend, 
and  your  greatest  Benefactor  ? Oh  ! allow  Jehovah,  the  Supreme  Being, 
to  be  to  you  what  He  deserves  to  be,  All  in  alL  One  lively  act  of 
faith,  one  assent  and  consent  to  this  delightful  truth,  that  your  Father, 
who  is  in  heaven,  loves  you  a thousand  times  more  than  you  love  your 
idol  (for  God’s  love  is,  like  Himself,  infinite  and  boundless),  wall  set 
your  heart  at  liberty,  and  even  make  it  dance  for  joy.  What,  if  to  this 
ravishing  consideration,  you  add  the  transporting  truth,  that  the  Son  of 
God,  fairer  than  the  sons  of  men  and  brighter  than  the  angels,  has 
loved  you  unto  death,  to  the  death  of  the  cross,  and  loves  you  still  more 
than  all  your  friends  do,  were  their  love  collected  into  one  heart,  could 
you  help  thinking,  with  a degree  of  joyous  gratitude,  of  such  an  instance 
of  Divine  condescension  ? No,  your  vile  would  be  ennobled ^ raised y 
expanded,  and  set  at  liberty  by  this  evangelical  thought.  Self  would 
be  nobody ; Emmanuel  would  be  all  in  all.  You  would  be  so  employed 
in  praising  your  Father’s  mercy,  and  your  Saviour’s  love  and  tenderness, 
that  you  would  have  but  little  time  to  speak  either  of  good  or  bad  self. 
When  self  is  forgotten,  as  notkingheiore  God,  you  put  self  in  its  proper 
place ; and  you  make  room  for  the  heavenly  Being,  whose  holy  and 
happy  existence  you  are  to  shadow  out.  If  you  have  left  off  attending 
on  the  Princess,^  attend  on  the  Prince  of  Peace  with  double  diligence. 

Shall  we  ever  have  the  honour  of  seeing  you,  my  lady  ? My  wife, 
who  joins  in  respectful  love  and  thanks  to  your  ladyship,  for  your  re- 
membrance of  her,  says,  she  will  do  her  best  to  render  our  cold  house 
safe  for  you,  if  not  convenient.  You  would  have  had  a repeated  in- 
vitation from  us,  if  a concern  for  your  health,  heightened  by  the  bad 
weather,  had  not  checked  our  desires  to  have  an  opportunity  of  assuring 
you  how  much  we  are  devoted  to  your  service.  But  the  roads  and 
weather  beginning  to  mend,  we  venture  to  offer  you  the  best  apartment 
in  our  hermitage.  I wish  it  were  large  enough  to  take  in  dear  Mrs. 

G and  our  dear  friends  in  St.  James’s  Place ; but  we  have  only 

two  small  rooms ; to  which,  however,  you  would  be  received  with  two 
enlarged  hearts, — I mean  those  of  your  ladyship’s  obedient,  devoted 
servants, 

‘‘John  and  Mary  Fletcher.”^ 

How  long  Fletcher  was  laid  aside  from  his  public  work 
there  is  no  evidence  to  show.  His  position  was  somewhat 
trying,  for  the  work  was  heavy,  and  Mr.  Bayley,  his  curate. 


^ Probably,  Princess  Elizabeth  Caroline,  the  third  daughter  of  George 
the  Second,  one  of  the  most  excellent  of  women.  She  died,  in  St. 
James’s  Palace,  in  1787. 

^ Probably  Mrs.  Grinfield,  “one  of  Caesar’s  household,”  as  White- 
field  called  her,  an  attendant  at  St.  James’s  Palace. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  287. 


Age  53.] 


A New  Poem. 


511 


had  been  obliged  to  return  to  Wesley’s  school  at  Kings- 
wood.  This  and  other  matters  are  referred  to  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  Charles  Wesley  : — 

''Madeley,  December  19,  1782. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I thank  you  for  your  hint  about  exempli- 
fying the  love  of  Christ  and  His  Church.  I hope  we  do.  I was  afraid, 
at  first,  to  say  much  of  the  matter ; but,  having  lived  thirteen  months 
in  my  new  state,  I can  tell  you.  Providence  has  reserved  ^rize  for  me, 
and  that  my  wife  is  far  better  to  me  than  the  Church  to  Christ,  so  that 
if  the  parallel  fails,  it  will  be  on  my  side. 

Be  so  good  as  to  peruse  the  enclosed  sheets.  Mr.  De  Luc,  to  whom 
they  are  addressed,  is  reader  to  the  Queen,  and  the  author  of  some 
volumes  of  Letters  to  her : he  Is  a true  philosopher.  I flatter  myself, 
he  will  present  my  letter  to  the  Queen.  Do  you  find  anything  improper 
in  the  addition  I have  made  to  my  poem  ? I wish  I were  near  you  for 
your  criticisms  ; you  would  direct  me,  both  as  ay5^?^/and  2^  Frenchman. 

I have  yet  strength  enough  to  do  my  parish  duty  without  the  help 
of  a curate.  O that  the  Lord  would  help  me  to  do  it  acceptably  and 
profitably  ! The  colliers  began  to  rise  in  this  neighbourhood  : happily 
the  cockatrice’s  egg  was  crushed,  before  the  serpent  came  out.  How- 
ever, I got  many  a hearty  curse  from  the  colliers,  for  the  plain  words  I 
spoke  on  that  occasion.  I want  to  see  days  of  power  both  within  and 
without;  but,  meantime,  I would  follow  closely  my  light  in  the  narrow 
path. 

‘‘My  wife  joins  me  in  respectful  love  to  Mrs.  Wesley  and  yourself ; 
and,  requesting  an  interest  in  your  prayers  for  us,  I remain,  my  dear 
Sir,  your  affectionate,  obliged  brother,  servant,  and  son  in  the  Gospel, 

“John  Fletcher.”^ 

The  ‘‘  poem,”  mentioned  in  this  letter,  was  ‘‘  La  Grace  et 
la  Nature,”  which  Fletcher  had  composed  in  Switzerland, 
and  published  in  Geneva.  He  had  now  enlarged  it,  and 
wished  to  publish  a second  edition  of  it,  and  to  dedicate  the 
book  to  the  Queen  of  King  George  the  Third.  This  was 
done  a few  months  before  he  died  ; but,  previous  to  com- 
mitting his  sheets  to  the  press,  he  submitted  them  to  the 
criticism  of  Charles  Wesley,  Methodism’s  unequalled  hymno- 
logist. 

This,  however,  was  not  the  only  poem  on  which  Fletcher 
was  now  engaged.  On  November  30,  1782,  the  preliminaries 
of  the  peace  with  America  were  signed  ; and,  on  January  20, 
1783,  peace  was  concluded  with  France  and  Spain.  The 


Letters,  1791,  p.  288. 


512 


Wesley* s Designated  Successor, 


[1783. 


termination  of  the  long  and  disastrous  war  gave  no  one 
greater  joy  than  it  did  Fletcher.  He  celebrated  it  in 
another  poem,  written  also  in  French,  and  dedicated  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Paris.^  This  was  published,  but  is  now 
extremely  scarce.  Fletcher  enlarged  it ; and,  in  1785,  Mr. 
Gilpin  translated  it  into  English,  and  intended  to  dedicate 
his  translation  to  the  author;  but,  just  as  this  English  edition 
was  being  printed,  Fletcher  died,  and  the  dedication,  dated 
exactly  a fortnight  after  Fletcher's  death,  was,  To  the 
Honoured  Mrs.  Mary  de  la  Flechere,  of  Madeley,  in  Shrop- 
shire." The  title  of  the  poem  was,  ‘^An  Essay  upon  the 
Peace  of  1783.  Dedicated  to  the  Archbishop  of  Paris. 
Translated  from  the  French  of  the  Rev.  J.  Fletcher,  late 
Vicar  of  Madeley.  By  the  Rev.  J.  Gilpin,  Vicar  of  Wrock- 
wardine,  Salop.  London  : Printed  by  R.  Hindmarsh,  1785." 
4to,  79  pp. 

Want  of  space  renders  it  impossible  to  furnish  extracts 
from  this  poetical  production.  In  rhyme  and  rhythm, 
Fletcher,  or,  more  probably,  his  translator,  was  far  from 
perfect  ; but  that  the  Vicar,  bred  among  the  inspiring 
scenery  of  Switzerland,  was  possessed  of  real  poetic  genius, 
there  cannot  be  a doubt.  His  descriptions  of  a naval  battle, 
and  of  a fight  on  land,  and  of  the  bombarding  of  Gibraltar, 
are  very  graphic.  So  also  are  his  definitions  of  the  passions 
which  war  too  frequently  evokes. 

Though  hardly  worth  mentioning,  it  may  be  stated,  that 
the  only  thing  published  by  Fletcher,  in  the  year  1782,  was 
the  following  : ‘‘  A Race  for  Eternal  Life  : being  an  Extract 
from  the  Heavenly  Footman.  A Sermon  on  i Cor.  ix.  24  : 
written  by  the  Author  of  the  ‘ Pilgrim's  Progress.'  By  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher.  London  : printed  by  R.  Hindmarsh." 
1 2 mo,  16  pp.  Fletcher  says: — 

^'This  extract  is  published, — i.  To  stir  up  lazy  and  inconsistent 
Arminian  professors,  who  assert  that  we  should  work  out  our  own  sal- 
vation with  all  diligence,  and  yet  neglect  doing  it.  And,  2.  To  convince 
of  partiality  the  contentious  Calvinists,  who  quarrel  with  their  brethren 
for  preaching  consistently  the  very  same  doctrine,  which  is  inconsist- 
ently maintained  by  their  orthodox  teachers,  among  whom  pious  John 
Bunyan  stands  in  the  first  rank.’^ 


^ Fletcher’s  dedication  is  dated,  ‘^Madeley,  Salop,  January  28,  1784.” 


Age  53  ] Natha^iiel  Gilbert  and  Melville  Horne,  513 


About  this  time,  two  young  men  were  introduced  to 
Fletcher,  whom  he  helped  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  and 
who,  soon  afterwards,  attained  distinction,  as  clergymen  of 
the  Church  of  England. 

One  of  these  was  Nathaniel  Gilbert,  the  eldest  son  of 
Nathaniel  Gilbert,  Esq.,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Assembly 
in  Antigua,  and  who  formed  the  first  Methodist  Society  in 
the  West  Indies.  In  1759,  he  had  requested  Fletcher  to 
accompany  him  to  the  Western  Archipelago  ; but  Fletcher 
had  declined,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  neither  ‘‘  sufficient 
zeal,  nor  grace,  nor  talents”  for  such  missionary  work.  His 
son,  Nathaniel,  was  sent  to  England  at  the  age  of  seven 
(about  the  year  1761),  and,  three  years  later,  was  placed 
under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hatton,  of  Water’s  Upton,  in 
Shropshire,  where  he  acquired  a knowledge  of  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages.  On  returning  to  Antigua,  he  found  that 
the  estate  of  his  father  was  overwhelmed  with  debt,  and  that 
the  subsistence  of  the  family  depended  on  a small  jointure 
belonging  to  his  mother.  He  came  back  to  England ; settled 
in  the  parish  of  Madeley ; enjoyed  the  advantages  of  Fletcher’s 
ministry  and  counsels  ; and  devoted  himself  to  God.  On 
receiving  episcopal  ordination,  the  places  of  his  ministerial 
labours  were  Bristol,  London,  Budworth,  Sierra  Leone,  Aveley, 
and  Bledlow.  He  was  an  eminently  good  and  useful  man  ; 
and  peacefully  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  in  1807,  in  the  forty-sixth 
year  of  his  age.^ 

The  other  youth,  who  greatly  benefited  by  Fletcher’s 
example  and  advice,  was  Melville  Horne,  who,  for  a few 
years,  was  one  of  Wesley’s  Itinerant  Preachers,  and  then  was 
ordained  for  the  ministry  of  the  Church  of  England.  Melville 
Horne  was  a remarkable  man,  of  whom  it  would  be  an  easy 
and  pleasant  task  to  write  a more  than  ordinary  biograph}\ 
Suffice  it  to  say  here,  that,  a year  after  Fletcher’s  death,  he 
became  the  officiating  minister  in  Fletcher’s  church  ; that,  in 
1792,  he  and  his  friend  Gilbert  went  as  missionaries  to  Sierra 
Leone  ; that,  on  his  return  in  1794,  he  was  appointed  Chap- 
lain of  Magdalen  Chapel,  Bristol  ; and  then  became  Vicar 
of  Olney.^  This  is  not  the  place  to  record  his  subsequent 

‘ Christian  Observer ^ 1807,  pp.  768-772. 

^ Unpublished  letters. 

33 


5H 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1783- 


career  of  distinguished  usefulness  ; but  the  testimony  of  such 
a man,  concerning  Fletcher,  is  worthy  of  being  quoted.  Many 
years  after  his  first  introduction  to  Fletcher,  he  wrote  : — 

On  all  my  visits  to  Mr.  Fletcher,  I derived  the  highest  pleasure  and 
edification.  I not  only  had  the  opportunity  of  hearing  many  excellent 
sermons,  but  of  seeing  him  in  the  privacies  of  life  ; and  I know  not  which 
most  to  venerate, — his  public  or  his  private  character.  Grave  and  dig- 
nified in  his  deportment  and  manners,  he  yet  excelled  in  all  the  courtesies 
of  the  accomplished  gentleman.  In  every  company,  he  appeared  as  the 
least,  the  last,  and  the  servant  of  all.  From  head  to  foot,  he  was  clothed 
with  humility ; while  the  heavenly-mindedness  of  an  angel  shone  from 
his  countenance,  and  sparkled  in  his  eyes.  His  religion  was  without 
labour,  and  without  effort ; for  Christianity  was  not  only  his  great  busi- 
ness, but  his  very  element  and  nature.  As  a mortal  man,  he  doubtless 
had  his  errors  and  failings ; but  what  they  were,  they  who  knew  him 
best  would  find  it  difficult  to  say ; for  he  appeared  as  an  instrument  of 
heavenly  minstrelsy  always  attuned  to  the  Master’s  touch. 

''  In  every  view,  he  was  a great  man,  and  entitled  to  rank  in  the  very 
first  class  of  ministers ; but  it  was  his  goodness  that  raised  him  above 
all  the  ministers  of  his  day. 

‘^On  my  occasional  visits  to  Madeley,  I was  struck  with  several  things. 
Once,  when  preaching  on  Noah  as  a type  of  Christ,  he  was  in  the 
midst  of  a most  animated  description  of  the  terrible  day  of  the  Lord, 
when  he  suddenly  paused.  Every  feature  of  his  expressive  countenance 
was  marked  with  painful  feeling ; and,  striking  his  forehead  with  the 
palm  of  his  hand,  he  exclaimed,  ^ Wretched  man  that  I am  ! Beloved 
brethren,  it  often  cuts  me  to  the  soul,  as  it  does  at  this  moment,  to 
reflect,  that,  while  I have  been  endeavouring,  by  the  force  of  truth,  by 
the  beauty  of  holiness,  and  even  by  the  terrors  of  the  Lord,  to  bring  you 
to  walk  in  the  peaceable  paths  of  righteousness,  I am,  with  respect  to 
many  of  you  who  reject  the  Gospel,  only  tying  millstones,  round  your 
necks,  to  sink  you  deeper  in  perdition  ! ’ The  whole  congregation  was 
electrified,  and  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  resume  his  subject. 

“ On  another  occasion,  after  the  morning  service,  he  asked  if  any  of 
the  congregation  could  give  him  the  address  of  a sick  man  whom  he 
was  desired  to  visit.  He  was  answered,  * He  is  dead.  Sir.’  ‘Dead! 
dead  I ’ he  exclaimed  ; ‘ another  soul  launched  into  eternity  I What 
can  I do  for  him  now  ? Why,  my  friends,  will  you  so  frequently  serve 
me  in  this  manner  ? I am  not  informed  you  are  ill  till  I find  you  dying, 
or  hear  that  you  are  dead.’  Then  sitting  down,  he  covered  his  head 
with  his  gown,  and,  when  the  congregation  had  retired,  walked  home 
crushed  with  sorrow. 

“ One  New  Year’s  Day,  Gilbert  and  myself  dined  with  him,  as  did 
also  a pious  young  man  and  his  wife.  After  he  had  entertained  us  with 
much  pious  and  instructive  conversation,  as  we  all  stood  around  the  fire 
and  were  ready  to  separate,  he  took  Gilbert’s  hand  and  mine  and  joined 
them  together,  and  said,  ‘ You  two  young  men  are  united  by  blood,  by 


Age  53.]  Melville  Horne' s Anecdotes  concerning  Fletcher.  515 


friendship,  and  by  your  destination  to  the  blessed  service  of  the  sanc- 
tuary/ Then,  turning  to  the  young  man  and  his  wife,  he  remarked, 

‘ Do  you  also,  whom  God  has  joined  in  the  tenderest  of  earthly  bonds, 
join  hands,  and  I will  take  that  of  my  beloved  wife.’  This  being  done, 
he  continued,  ^ And  now  what  shall  we  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  His 
benefits  ? What  blessings  have  we  received  ! What  mercies  have 
followed  us  the  last  year  ! This  is  the  first  day  of  a new  year.  Let  us 
give  our  whole  soul  to  God.  Let  us  start  afresh  on  the  road  to  immor- 
tality. Forgetting  the  things  that  are  behind,  let  us  press  toward  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.’  And 
then,  lifting  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  prayed  for  the  whole  of  us  most 
fervently  and  affectionately.”  ^ 

After  this  account  of  the  covenant  service  in  Fletcher’s 
vicarage,  Mr.  Horne  proceeds  to  relate  other  anecdotes  which 
came  within  his  own  personal  knowledge.  He  writes  : — 

‘Hnthe  contests  of  humility,  kindness,  and  affection,  it  was  impossible 
to  surpass  Mr.  Fletcher.  On  one  occasion,  the  Rev.  Moseley  Cheek 
had  been  preaching  in  his  parish  ; and,  on  their  way  home  to  Madeley, 
in  a dark  night,  and  along  a deep,  dirty  road,  Mr.  Fletcher  carefully 
held  the  lantern  to  Mr.  Cheek,  while  he  himself  walked  through  the 
mire.  Mr.  Cheek  made  fruitless  attempts  to  take  the  lantern  from  him  ; 
Mr.  Fletcher  replying  to  his  protests,  ‘ What,  my  brother,  have  you 
been  holding  up  the  glorious  light  of  the  Gospel,  and  will  you  not 
permit  me  to  hold  this  dim  taper  to  your  feet  ? ’ 

At  another  time,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gilpin  perceiving  a funeral  waiting 
at  the  church  gate,  took  the  surplice  and  commenced  the  service ; but 
he  had  hardly  got  into  the  desk  when  Mr.  Fletcher,  who  had  been 
visiting  a sick  person,  came  into  the  church,  and  gently  drawing  away 
a lad  who  was  officiating  in  the  absence  of  the  clerk,  took  his  place. 
After  the  service  was  ended,  he  observed  that  he  could  not  bear  to  see 
the  place  of  an  inferior  servant  of  the  Church  improperly  filled  up  with- 
out attempting  to  supply  it  himself  with  a greater  degree  of  decorum 
and  reverence. 

Once,  when  my  coat  was  dusty  with  riding,  he  insisted  on  brushing 
it,  but  objected  to  let  me  perform  the  same  office  for  himself.  Mrs. 
Fletcher,  who  perceived  our  contest,  said,  with  a smile,  ‘ Then  sutfer 
me  to  do  it ; for  I assure  you,  my  dear,  you  need  it  as  much  as  Mr. 
Horne.’  ‘ If  you  please,  my  love,’  was  the  reply,  ‘you  shall  do  it,  for 
you  are  a part  of  myself.’  ” ^ 

“Some  of  these  anecdotes,”  says  Mr.  Cox,  “may,  at  first  sight, 
appear  too  trivial  for  publication ; but  they  are  highly  descriptive  of 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  general  demeanour;  and,  as  Rosseau  observes,  ‘The 


Cox’s  “ Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  147. 
Ihid^  p.  149. 


5i6  Wesley's  Designated  Successor,  [1783- 


physiognomy  does  not  show  itself  in  great  features,  nor  the  character 
of  a man  in  great  actions.  It  is  in  trifles  that  the  natural  disposition 
discovers  itself.’  ” ^ 

While  Fletcher  was  forming  new  friendships  with  young 
Nathaniel  Gilbert  and  Melville  Horne,  his  old  friends  were 
rapidly  dying.  His  generous  host,  Mr.  Charles  Greenwood, 
of  Stoke  Newington,  triumphantly  exchanged  mortality  for 
eternal  life  on  February  21,  1783,  on  which  occasion  Fletcher 
wrote  the  following  to  Mrs.  Thornton  : — 

Madeley,  March  3,  1783. 

My  Dear  Friend, — Yesterday,  I received  your  melancholy  joyful 
letter  as  I came  from  the  sacrament,  where  the  grace  of  God  had  armed 
me  to  meet  the  news.  And  is  my  merciful  host  gone  to  reap  the  fruit  of 
his  mercy  to  me  ? I thought  I should  have  been  permitted  to  go  first, 
and  welcome  him  into  everlasting  habitations ; but  Providence  has 
ordered  it  otherwise,  and  I am  left  behind  to  say,  with  you  and  dear 
Mrs.  Greenwood,  ‘ The  Lord  gave  and  has  taken  away ; blessed  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord.’  The  glory  with  which  Mr.  Greenwood’s  setting  sun 
was  gilded,  is  the  greatest  comfort  by  which  heaven  could  alleviate  his 
loss.  Let  me  die  as  he  died,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his  ! , I was  so 
affected  by  your  account  that  I could  not  help  reading  part  of  your  letter 
at  church  in  the  afternoon,  and  desiring  all  the  congregation  to  join 
me  in  thanksgiving  for  the  late  mercies  God  has  vouchsafed  to  my 
generous  benefactor.  On  such  occasions,  let  sighs  be  lost  in  praise, 
and  repining  in  humble  submission  and  thankful  acquiescence.  I hope 
dear  Mrs.  Greenwood  mixes  tears  of  joy  with  tears  of  sorrow.  Who 
would  not  be  landed  on  the  other  side  of  the  stream  of  time  if  he  were 
sure  of  such  a passage  ? Who  would  wish  his  best  friend  back  on  the 
shores  of  sorrow  so  triumphantly  left  by  Mr.  Greenwood  ? 

So  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perronet  are  no  more ; and  Lazarus  is  still  alive  ! 
What  scenes  does  this  world  afford  ! But  the  most  amazing  is  that  of 
Emmanuel  crucified,  and  offering  US  pardons  and  crowns  of  glory  ! ” ^ 

Another  letter,  written  three  months  after  this,  was 
addressed  to  John  Valton,  the  Methodist  itinerant,  who 
preached  at  Cross  Hall  to  the  wedding  party  on  the  evening 
of  Fletcher’s  marriage. 

''  Madeley,  July,  1783. 

Our  dear  friend’s  acceptable  favour  gave  us  much  pleasure,  though 
we  have  been  so  long  in  thanking  him  for  it. 

Never  did  we  imagine  till  lately  how  great  your  trial  has  been  about 


^ Cox’s  Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  150. 
^ Letters,  1791,  p.  290. 


Age  53.] 


Letter  to  John  Valton. 


517 


the  house  at  Birstal.^  But  how  gracious  is  the  Lord  ! How  has  He 
here  paid  you  by  the  refreshing  shower  which  has  since  distilled  as  the 
dew  on  the  grass.  O what  comfortable  accounts  have  reached  us  of  the 
wonderful  revival  in  your  circuit.^  In  this  my  heart  does  indeed  rejoice. 

God  is  good  unto  us  also.  He  has  not  left  us  without  encourage- 
ment. For  some  time  past,  we  have  scarcely  had  a week  in  which  one 
or  more  has  not  been  set  at  liberty.  But  we  are  called,  I believe,  to 
leave  them  for  a little  while,  and  to  spend  a few  weeks  in  Dublin.  They 
complain  of  this,  but  the  will  of  the  Lord  must  be  done.  When  He 
calls,  even  life  itself  must  not  be  esteemed  too  dear. 

‘ Wou  will  be  thankful  to  hear  that  my  best  earthly  friend  continues 
in  tolerable  health,  though  neither  of  us  is  strong.  We  are  more  and 
more  sensible  of  the  lovingkindness  of  the  Lord  in  casting  our  lot 
together.  Every  day  helps  us  to  praise  Him  more  and  more  for  His 
condescension  and  goodness  to  such  unworthy  worms.  I speak  thus 
freely  to  you  because  you  were  a witness  of  the  beginning  of  our  pilgrim- 
age together.  I see  many  professors,  and  many  really  in  earnest ; but, 
alas  ! very  seldom  any  who  can  warm  one’s  heart  with  the  deep  things 
of  God.  O for  a deeper  baptism  of  the  Spirit ! I want  that  promise 
7nore fully  accomplished,  ‘ I and  my  Father  will  come,  and  will  make 
our  abode  with  you.’ 

Praying  that  the  Lord  may  be  with  you  all  at  the  ensuing  Confer- 
ence, we  remain,  dear  brother,  your  affectionate  friends, 

John  and  Mary  Fletcher.” 

The  foregoing  letter  mentions  an  intended  visit  to  Dublin. 
It  has  been  already  stated  that  Fletcher  received  an  invita- 
tion from  the  Dublin  Methodists  to  visit  them  in  1782;  and 
that  he  was  then  obliged  to  decline  their  invitation.  Now 
his  way  to  Ireland  seemed  open.  Mrs.  Fletcher  writes  : — 

1783,  August  5.  Since  May  22  ” [the  date  of  the  last  entry  in  her 
journal],  '‘a  fever  has  been  in  the  parish,  which  took  off  many  whom 


^ The  Methodist  meeting-house,  erected,  under  the  auspices  of  John 
Nelson,  about  the  year  1751.  The  trouble,  at  this  time,  arose  out  of 
the  demand  of  the  trustees  to  elect,  after  Wesley’s  death,  their  own 
preachers,  and  to  order  them  to  preach  in  Birstal  chapel  twice  every 
Sunday,  every  Christmas  Day,  New  Year’s  Day,  and  Good  Friday,  and 
also  every  Thursday  night.  (See  Life  and  Times  of  Wesley,”  vol.  iii., 

pp-  373-383-) 

^ See  an  account  of  this  remarkable  work  of  God  in  the  “ Life  and 
Labours  of  the  Rev.  John  Valton,  edited  by  Joseph  Sutcliffe,  A.M., 
1830,”  pp.  104-114. 

^ Methodist  Magazine^  i79^>  P*  59^- 
It  is  said  that,  after  his  marriage,  Fletcher,  when  writing  to  his 
friends^  always  subscribed  his  letters  foh7i  and  Mary  Fletcher 
(See  “ Six  Letters  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Fletcher.  Bath,  1788.”  i2mo, 
20  pp.) 


518 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1783. 


we  saw  it  our  duty  to  attend.  It  brought  eternity  very  near,  and  that 
always  does  me  good.  It  came  into  our  family,  and  Sally  ” [Lawrence] 
‘‘was  attacked  with  it;  but  God  raised  her  up  again  in  a wonderful 
manner.  Soon  after  her  recovery.  Dr.  Coke  came,  on  his  way  from 
Dublin,  and  brought  letters  to  each  of  us.  We  went  to  church,  where 
the  doctor  preached.  When  we  returned  home,  I followed  my  dear  to 
his  study,  and  told  him  if  he  saw  it  his  call  to  go  to  Dublin,  I saw  it 
mine  to  go  with  him.  Since  that  day,  we  have  been  preparing  for  our 
journey.  My  dear  husband’s  health  is  not  very  good.  What  the  Lord 
will  do  with  us  I know  not.  We  are,  however,  ready  for  setting  off.” 

Five  weeks  after  this,  Mrs.  Fletcher  wrote  again  in  her 
journal  as  follows  : — 

“ 1783,  September  12,  William  Street,  Dublin.  This  day  of  our  birth 
calls  for  solemn  praise.  I say  OUR  birth,  because,  as  far  as  we  can 
learn,  my  dear  Mr.  Fletcher  was  born  on  the  same  day  ten  years 
before  me. 

“With  the  prayers  and  blessings  of  many  of  our  friends,  we  set  off 
from  Madeley  on  Tuesday,  August  12.  At  night,  we  were  affectionately 
received  by  Mrs.  Glynne,  of  Shrewsbury,  whose  love  to  the  children  of 
God  does  not  grow  cold.  My  dear  husband  preached  on  the  danger  of 
being  ashamed  of  the  Gospel, 

“ The  next  day,  we  pursued  our  journey  as  far  as  Llangollen,  in  Wales, 
where  we  abode  all  night.  Enquiring,  as  we  walked  about  the  town, 
whether  they  had  any  praying  people  among  them,  the  poor  things 
answered  us  in  the  best  manner  they  could,  and  said,  ‘ Yes,  Sir,  there 
are  some  people  who  pray  in  houses  at  the  other  end  of  the  town,  but 
we  know  not  what  they  be.  This  very  night  a man  is  to  preach  in  their 
chapel.’  We  went  to  the  place,  and  found  a few  poor  people  gathered 
in  a building  which,  I believe,  was  part  of  an  old  house.  The  preacher 
seemed  very  earnest,  but  we  could  not  understand  a word  he  said,  except 
ogoniant  and  gwaed — glory  and  blood  ; which,  with  much  emphasis,  he 
often  repeated.  After  we  were  returned  to  our  inn,  a few,  who  could 
understand  English,  came  to  us,  and  desired  my  dear  to  give  them  a 
sermon  in  the  morning,  which  he  did,  on  these  words,  ‘ This  is  His  com- 
mandment, that  we  should  believe  on  the  name  of  His  Son,  Jesus  Christ, 
and  love  one  another,  as  He  hath  given  us  commandment.’  It  was  a 
good  time,  and  several  were  present  who  understood  English. 

“We  then  sent  off  for  Conway,  and,  on  Friday  afternoon,  reached 
Holyhead.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  very  poorly,  and  a swelling  on  his  face 
now  broke,  which  gave  him  much  inconvenience ; but,  on  Saturday 
morning,  we  embarked.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  not  affected  by  the  sea,  but 
I was  very  ill.  About  one  o’clock  on  Sunday  morning,  we  cast  anchor 
three  miles  from  Dublin ; and,  at  five,  reached  the  Hotel  on  Dublin 
Quay. 

“We  now  abide  with  our  hospitable  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smyth,  in 
William  Street,  and  have  seen  much  of  the  Lord’s  hand  in  bringing  us 


Age  54.]  Fletcher  and  his  Wife  visit  Dublin. 


519 


hither.  My  dear  husband  has  been  favoured  with  much  unction  in 
preaching  the  word.  The  present  (Methodist)  preachers  in  Dublin, 
brothers  Rutherford  and  Jackson,  are  simple,  pious  men,  and  respect 
that  command,  Mn  honour  preferring  one  another.’  They  heartily 
rejoice  in  the  message  my  dear  husband  delivers  among  them.  I feel 
much  liberty  in  meeting  the  classes.  Here  are  a few  truly  athirst  for 
full  salvation.  Our  kind  and  generous  host  and  hostess  allow  us  all 
freedom  in  their  house,  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  His 
people ; and,  as  their  servants  also  are  pious,  upright  persons,  we  can 
here  worship  with  them  in  calm  and  brotherly  love.” 

Before  referring  to  the  testimonies  of  other  persons,  it 
may  be  best  to  complete  what  Mrs.  Fletcher  has  to  say 
concerning  this  evangelistic  visit  to  the  sister  island.  She 
writes  : — 

‘'Madeley,  October  On  the  7th  of  this  month,  we  left  Dublin, 
and  embarked  for  Holyhead.  In  the  night,  the  wind  grew  high.  My 
husband,  myself,  and  also  Sally,  were  so  ill,  we  could  scarce  speak,  or 
look  towards  each  other.  Since  our  return,  I have  closely  examined 
what  I have  lost  or  got  in  these  last  three  months.  I praise  the  Lord 
that  we  went  to  Dublin,  and  that  for  various  reasons.  There  are  some 
there  with  whom  I found  much  fellowship  ; at  whose  feet  I sat,  and, 
I trust,  learned  many  useful  lessons.  My  dear  Mr.  Fletcher  preached 
in  several  places  besides  the  (Methodist)  Preaching-house  in  White- 
Friars-street,  both  to  the  French  and  English,  and  we  had  some  re- 
markable proofs  that  he  was  called  there  by  God. 

‘‘Since  our  return,  my  dear  husband  has  taken  another  journey  of 
about  two  hundred  miles,*  from  which  he  has  suffered  a good  deal. 
His  face  is  not  yet  well ; but  the  unwearied  patience,  wherewith  he 
goes  through  all,  is  to  me  a continual  lesson. 

'‘^November  12.  We  see  another  anniversary  of  our  blessed  union, 
and  are  yet  more  happy,  and  more  tender  towards  each  other;  and, 
what  is  better,  our  souls  get  nearer  God.  We  are  more  spiritual,  and 
live  more  for  eternity.”^ 

Henry  Moore,  Wesley’s  sturdy  Itinerant,  was  appointed  to 
the  Dublin  Circuit,  three  years  after  Fletcher’s  visit,  and,  in 
1818,  wrote  : — 

“Never  did  I see  such  deep  impressions  made  on  the  people  of 
Dublin  as  by  the  truly  evangelical  labours  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fletcher, 


* This  was  a journey  to  Bristol,  whither  he  escorted  his  hostess,  Mrs. 
Smyth,  Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald,  and  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Edward  Smyth.  (“  Life  and  Times  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,”  vol. 
ii.,  p.  195.) 

^ “Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life,”  by  H.  Moore,  p.  155. 


520 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1783. 


except,  perhaps,  in  the  very  short  visits  of  Mr.  Wesley.  A great  revival 
of  pure  religion  followed  in  the  Dublin  Society.  That  Society  had 
usually  consisted  of  about  500  persons,  but  it  soon  increased  to  upwards 
of  1000,  and  has  never  since  fallen  below  that  number.  Such  longing 
after  entire  conformity  to  the  Son  of  God  I never  beheld.  How  wide 
this  sacred  influence  might  have  extended,  who  can  tell,  if  a poor 
sectarian  spirit  had  not  limited  Mr.  Fletcher’s  labours.  On  his  arrival 
in  Dublin,  his  host,  Mr.  Smyth,  a distinguished  and  most  respectable 
gentleman,  applied  to  the  rector  of  St.  Andrew’s  Parish,  in  which  he 
lived,  to  allow  Mr.  Fletcher  to  preach  in  his  church,  and  this  was 
immediately  granted.  The  church  was  crowded  to  excess.  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
text  Vv^as,  ‘Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a Christian.’  His  earnest- 
ness and  power  astonished  the  congregation,  some  of  whom  seemed  to 
doubt  if  he  were  not  more  than  human.  But,  alas  ! it  was  soon  known 
that  he  preached  on  the  evening  of  that  same  day  at  the  Methodist 
Preaching-house ; and  the  pulpits  of  the  churches  were  immediately 
closed  against  him,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  the  French  Church. 
The  first  time  he  preached  there,  his  text  was  Hebrews  x.  32,  when  he 
brought  before  the  congregation  the  faith  of  their  ancestors.  When 
some  of  them  were  asked,  ‘ Why  did  you  go  to  hear  Mr.  Fletcher,  when 
you  could  not  understand  a word  he  said?’  they  answered,  ‘We  went 
to  look  at  him,  for  heaven  seemed  to  beam  from  his  countenance.’ 

Mr.  Henry  Brooke,^  who  took  a leading  part  in  inviting 
Fletcher  to  visit  Dublin,  wrote  : — 

“ 1783,  September  6.  The  same  grace  and  power  which  attend  Mr. 
Fletcher’s  pulpit  lectures,  and  gather  innumerable  crowds  of  hungering, 
thirsting  souls  to  flock  to  his  ministry,  also  attend  his  conversation  in 
private.  He  seems  never — no,  never — for  a moment,  to  turn  his  eye 
from  the  one  great  object  of  our  faith  and  love  ; and  he  continually  stirs 
up  all  around  him  to  love  and  praise.  He  appears  to  live  and  breathe 
nothing  else.” 

In  another  letter,  to  his  father,  Mr.  Brooke  observed  : — - 

“I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  convey  to  you  the  substance  and 
energy  of  those  precious  and  excellent  discourses,  with  which  we  are 
frequently  favoured  from  Mr.  Fletcher.  His  words  are  living  sparks, 
rushing  from  the  furnace  of  divine  love  glowing  in  his  heart.” 

Mr.  Brooke,  in  a letter  to  the  Rev.  J.  Gilpin,  the  translator 
of  Fletcher’s  ‘‘  Portrait  of  St.  Paul,”  remarked  : — 

“When  Mr.  Fletcher  was  about  to  leave  us,  knowing  the  scanty 
pittance  he  received  from  his  parish,  we  thought  it  but  an  act  of 


* “Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life,”  by  H.  Moore,  p.  154, 

^ Mr.  Brooke  is  described,  in  Wesley’s  “ Last  Will  and  Testament,” 
as  a “ Painter.” 


Age  54.]  Original  Letter  from  the  Dublin  Methodists.  521 


common  honesty  to  refund  him  the  expense  he  had  been  at  in  coming 
to  Dublin,  and  to  bear  his  charges  back  again  to  Madeley.  Accord- 
ingly, after  he  had  preached  on  the  last  evening  of  his  stay  among  us, 
the  stewards  and  trustees  united  to  press  his  acceptance  of  a small 
purse,  not  as  a present,  but  as  a debt  justly  due  to  him.  But  he  firmly 
and  absolutely  refused  it.  At  length,  being  very  urgent  with  him  and 
importunate  to  an  excess,  he  took  the  purse  in  his  hand,  and  said,  ‘ Do 
you  really  force  it  upon  me  ? Must  I accept  it  ? Is  it  entirely  mine  ? 
and  may  I do  what  I please  with  it  ?’  ‘ Yes,  yes,’  we  all  replied.  ‘ God 
be  praised  then  ! God  be  praised  ! ’ cried  he,  raising  his  eyes  towards 
heaven.  ‘ What  a mercy  is  here  ! I heard  some  of  you  complaining 
that  your  Poor’s  Fund  was  never  so  low  before ; take  this  purse ; God 
has  sent  it  to  you  ; raised  it  among  yourselves  ; and  bestowed  it  upon 
your  poor.  You  cannot  deny  me  ; it  is  sacred  to  them.  God  be  praised! 
I thank  you,  I heartily  thank  you,  my  dear  kind  brethren.’  ” ^ 

A number  of  other  anecdotes  respecting  this  memorable 
visit,  all  more  or  less  authentic,  might  be  inserted  ; but 
enough  has  been  said  to  show  that  it  must  always  be  one  of 
the  great  events  in  the  history  of  Methodism  in  Dublin. 

Soon  after  the  return  to  Madeley  of  Fletcher  and  his  wife, 
they  received  the  following,  hitherto  unpublished  letter,  signed 
by  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  members  of  the  Dublin  Metho- 
dist Society,  the  signature  of  “ Henry  Brooke  ’’  standing 
first. 

''  1783,  October. 

‘‘  Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir  and  Madam, — Your  kindness  in 
accepting  our  united  invitation,  your  labour  of  love  in  crossing  the 
sea  to  visit  us,  and  your  spending  body  and  soul  for  our  profit  while 
among  us,  demand  a return  of  acknowledgment  and  gratitude,  wFich 
we  find  ourselves,  jointly  and  severally,  as  unable  to  express  as  to 
repay. 

“Confession  of  our  debt  is  the  utmost  extent  of  our  abilit3^  As  for 
reward,  we  must  call  upon  Him  to  answer  for  us,  who  has  already  paid 
the  mighty  debt  due  by  the  whole  world.  May  He,  then,  even  that 
Master,  the  sound  of  whose  feet  was  heard  behind  you,  and  the  power 
of  whose  Spirit  clothed  your  word  in  private  and  in  public, — may  He 
abundantly  reward  both  your  bodies  and  souls,  and,  according  to  the 
measure  you  have  meted  out,  measure  to  you  again  a hundred-fold, 
pressed  down,  shaken  together,  and  running  over  into  your  own  bosoms 
in  time  and  eternity. 

“ Your  liberality  to  the  sick  poor,  in  the  generous  donation  of  twenty- 
five  guineas,  has  gladdened  the  hearts  of  numbers,  besides  those  who 


' “Life  of  Mr.  Henry  Brooke,”  by  Isaac  D’Olier,  LL.D.,  pp.  102 — 
121. 


522 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1783- 


are  partakers  of  your  alms  ; for  you  have  nobly  honoured  the  Lord  by 
your  free  ministry,  and  set  your  seal  to  His  Word  with  your  substance. 
May  you  be  watered  again  and  again  abundantly  for  it ! 

‘‘We  can  only  pray  for  the  prosperity  of  your  labours  where  the 
adorable  providence  of  God  has  cast  your  lot  in  His  vineyard  ; and 
hope  that  the  Lord  may  give  the  people  to  see  and  know  (in  mercy  and 
not  in  judgment)  that  a prophet  has  been  among  them. 

“Lastly,  we  entreat  that,  after  the  example  of  St.  Paul,  you  will 
remember  us  all  in  your  daily  and  nightly  addresses  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  that  the  precious  seed,  which  has  been  sown,  may  bring  forth 
its  hundred-fold  increase,  to  our  joint  happiness  in  the  kingdom  of  God.’’ 

In  the  month  of  November,  a reply  was  sent  to  this,  from 
which  the  following  extract  is  taken  : — 

“Madeley,  November^  1783. 

“ To  the  Society  in  Dublin. 

“ To  all  the  dear  Brethren,  who,  after  kindly  inviting  John  and  Mary 
Fletcher,  patiently  bearing  with  them  and  their  infirmities,  and  enter- 
taining them  in  the  most  hospitable  manner,  have  added,  to  all  their 
former  favours,  that  of  thanking  them  for  their  most  pleasant  and  pro- 
fitable journey. 

“We  had  felt  shame  enough  under  the  sense  of  your  kindness  and 
patience  towards  us,  and  of  our  unprofitableness  towards  you,  when  at 
Dublin.  We  owed  you  the  letter  of  thanks  you  have  gratuitously  sent 
to  us.  But  in  all  things,  you  will  have  the  pre-eminence,  and  we  are 
glad  to  drink  the  cup  of  humility  at  your  feet  If  your  profuse  liberality 
toward  us  abounded  to  the  comfort  of  our  poor  brethren,  we  doubly 
rejoice  on  your  account,  and  on  theirs. 

“When  we  see  so  many  of  your  dear  names,  we  rejoice  in  hope  that 
they  are  enrolled  on  the  list  of  the  dear  people,  whom  our  great  High 
Priest  bears,  not  on  the  breastplate  as  Aaron,  but  on  His  bleeding 
hands,  and  in  His  very  heart,  which  is  the  overflowing  and  ever-flowing 
fountain  of  divine  and  brotherly  love.  Let  our  worthless  names  still 
find  a place  in  your  memory,  when  you  remember  your  brethren  distant 
in  the  fiesh,  but  near  in  the  Spirit.  Among  such,  vouchsafe  to  reckon 
your  very  affectionate  and  truly  obliged  servants  in  Christ, 

“John  and  Mary  Fletcher.” 

To  their  Irish  host,  William  Smyth,  Esq.,  Fletcher  wrote 
as  follows  : — 

JVovember,  1783. 

“Dear  Sir, — The  many  and  great  favours  with  which  you  loaded 
us,  during  our  long  stay  under  your  hospitable  roof,  have  been,  are  now, 
and,  we  trust,  ever  shall  be  deeply  engraven  on  our  hearts.  You  united, 
for  us,  Irish  hospitality,  English  cordiality,  and  French  politeness.  And 
now.  Sir,  what  shall  we  say  ? 


Age  S4-]  Unpublished  Pamphlet  by  Fletcher. 


523 


‘'You  are  our  generous  benefactor,  and  we  are  your  affectionate, 
though  unprofitable  servants.  In  one  sense,  we  are  on  a level  with 
those  to  whom  you  show  charity  in  the  streets  : we  can  do  nothing  but 
pray  for  you  and  yours.  You  kindly  received  us  for  Christ’s  sake  ; may 
God  receive  you  freely  for  His  sake  also  ! You  bore  with  our  infirmities; 
the  Lord  bear  with  yours  ! You  let  your  servant  serve  us  ; the  Lord  give 
all  His  servants  and  His  angels  charge  concerning  you ! You  gave  us 
a most  comfortable  apartment,  next  your  own  chamber ; the  Lord  grant 
you  eternal  rest  with  Himself  in  His  heavenly  mansions  ! You  fed  us 
with  the  richest  food ; may  the  Giver  of  every  perfect  gift  fit  you  for  a 
place  at  His  table,  and  may  you  rank  there  with  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob  ! You  gave  us  wines  ; may  you  drink,  with  Christ  Himself,  the 
fruit  of  the  vine,  new  in  your  Father’s  kingdom  ! ” ^ 

It  has  been  asserted,  that,  “towards  the  close  of  his  life,’’ 
Fletcher  “abstained  entirely  from  wine  and  strong  drink 
but  the  evidence  in  favour  of  this  is  dubious,  and,  certainly, 
the  last  sentence  of  the  foregoing  letter  seems  to  disprove  it. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  his  life,  he  was  exceedingly  tem- 
perate in  eating  and  drinking  ; but  it  may  fairly  be  doubted 
whether  Fletcher  was  ever  a “ teetotaler.”^  It  is  a curious 
fact,  however,  that  in  this  very  year,  1783,  he  wrote  a pam- 
phlet bearing  upon  the  subject  of  drunkenness  and  other 
matters,  which  he  intended  to  be  published,  but  which, 
I believe,  never  was.  It  was  sent  to  “Mr.  Hindmarsh, 
printer,  in  Baker’s  Court,  Holborn  Bars,  London,”  together 
with  a letter  of  instructions  as  to  the  printing  of  it,  dated, 
“ Madeley,  November  20,  1783.”  When  printed,  Mr.  Hind- 
marsh  was  requested  to  send,  as  soon  as  possible,  a copy  to 
every  member  of  Parliament.  The  title  was,  “Three  National 
Grievances, — the  Increase  of  Taxes,  the  Hardships  of  Unequal 
Taxation,  and  the  Continual  Rise  of  the  Poors  Rates  : with 
the  Causes  and  Remedies  of  these  Evils:  Humbly  Submitted 
to  the  Consideration  of  the  Legislature,  in  a Letter  to  the 
Right  Honorable  Lord  John  Cavendish,  Chancellor  of  the 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  293. 

^ Local  Preachers'  Magazine ^ 1853,  p.  172. 

^ Jonathan  Crowther,  President  of  the  Methodist  Conference  in  1819, 
says,  in  his  unpublished  autobiography  : — 

“Mr.  Yates,  of  Madeley,  told  me  that,  one  cold,  snowy,  frosty  day, 
when  Mr.  Fletcher  called  at  his  house,  as  he  was  sallying  out  to  visit 
his  parishioners,  he  asked  him  to  take  a little  punch,  which  was  then 
upon  the  table,  after  dinner.  Mr.  Fletcher  consented,  but  said,  ‘ First, 
let  us  ask  a blessing : it  makes  it  twice  as  good.’  ” 


524 


Wesley  s Designated  Successor. 


[1783. 


Exchequer,  and  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury.  London  : 
November,  1783.'’ 

The  temptation  is  strong  to  insert  this  remarkable  pro- 
duction in  extenso : but  to  do  so,  in  a chapter  like  the  present, 
would  be  an  inconvenient  excrescence  ; besides,  want  of  space 
makes  it  impossible.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that,  under  the  heading 
of  the  first  Grievance,’'  Fletcher  argues,  that,  the  decrease 
of  the  national  revenue,  and  consequent  increase  of  the  national 
taxation,  were  occasioned  by  “the  amazing  progress  of  smug- 
gling.” He  says,  “ No  one  can  deny  that  vast  quantities  of 
foreign  brandy,  rum,  gin,  tobacco,  snuff,  tea,  wines  of  all  sorts, 
and  a variety  of  other  articles,  are  fraudulently  imported 
and  that  these,  on  the  sea-coast,  are  sold  at  “ half  the  price 
which  they  cost  the  conscientious  merchant.”  “Many  thou- 
sands of  lawless  men  are  perpetually  forming  or  executing 
schemes,  to  defraud  the  Government,  and  reduce  us  to 
beggary.”  Fletcher  says,  it  was  once  his  opinion  that  “smug- 
gling might  be  prevented,  by  the  combined  services  of  the 
army  and  navy  ; but,”  he  adds,  “ as  most  of  the  inferior 
Custom  House  officers  on  the  coast,  with  £^o  di  year,  live 
in  splendour,  and  as  the  evil  is  deeply  rooted,  I am  now 
convinced  that  the  only  way  to  check  it  is  to  take  off  the 
duties,  to  lessen  the  number  of  officers  in  both  Customs  and 
Excise,  and  to  advance  the  salaries  of  those  who  are  retained. 
If  I prove  that,  by  lessening  the  duties,  the  revenue  will  be 
increased  and  smuggling  suppressed,  there  can  be  no  objection 
to  the  adoption  of  the  plan  proposed.”  Fletcher  enters  into 
many  details  to  establish  his  theory  ; and  thus,  long  before 
the  days  of  Peel  and  Gladstone,  took  the  part  of  free-traders. 

His  chapter  on  unequal  taxation  must  be  passed;  but  some 
of  his  statements,  in  the  thirds  deserve  notice.  He  insists 
that — 

*‘The  continual  increase  of  the  Poor  Rates  is  occasioned  by  the  cor- 
rupted morals  of  the  lower  classes  of  the  people,  who  are  seduced  into 
idleness  and  neglect  of  their  families,  in  the  public-houses  to  be  met 
with  at  every  turn.  There  are  also  multitudes  of  ;private  retailers  of 
smuggled  spirits,  who,  by  enticing  their  neighbours  into  drunkenness, 
entail  ruin  on  them  and  their  families.  In  some  parishes,  the  number 
of  these  lawless  retailers  far  exceeds  that  of  the  publicans.  But  to  speak 
only  of  licensed  houses,  what  multitudes  of  these  are  found  all  over 


Age  54-]  Unpublished  Pamphlet  by  Fletcher. 


525 


England ! In  some  places,  almost  every  fifth  house  is  one  of  those 
nurseries  of  vice.’’ 

Terrible  is  the  picture  which  Fletcher  draws,  respecting 
the  ruinous  consequences  of  drunkenness;  and  his  arguments 
would  help  Sir  Wilfrid  Lawson  to  make  a most  effective 
speech  on  “ Local  Option”  in  the  House  of  Commons. 

^Hf,”  continues  Fletcher,  these  paltry  public-houses  are  the  bane 
of  the  nation,  let  the  legislative  power  interfere  in  England,  as  it  has 
done  in  Holland.  Let  two-thirds  of  these  nuisances  be  suppressed ; 
and  by  raising  the  licenses  of  the  others,  so  as  to  indemnify  the  revenue, 
let  the  law  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the  idle  poor  to  set  up  these  petty 
schools  of  idleness  and  vice.  Then  people  of  character  will  no  longer 
be  afraid  to  become  publicans.” 

In  a ‘‘  postscript,”  Fletcher  refers  to  a pamphlet  which 
states  that — 

Sixty  thousand  of  the  ablest  young  men  in  the  kingdom,  and  one 
hundred  thousand  horses,  are  employed  in  smuggling,  whilst  one  hundred 
thousand  women  and  children  make  it  their  business  to  hawk  about  the 
country  the  articles  which  the  men  have  smuggled.  If  these  one  hundred 
and  sixty  thousand  people  were  employed  in  fishing,  agriculture,  spinning^ 
etc.,  their  labour  would  amount  annually  to  ;^2,464,ooo,  to  which  must 
be  added  the  sum  of  ;^i,82o,ooo,  the  cost  of  keeping  the  one  hundred 
thousand  horses  uses  by  smugglers.  . . . The  Dutch  catch  fish,  on  our 
coasts,  to  the  yearly  amount  of  one  million  sterling.  . . . Fishing  and 
smuggling  never  flourish  together.  ...  In  Scotland,  there  are  upwards 
of  ten  thousand  private  stills,”  etc.,  etc. 

Thus  Fletcher,  the  polemical  divine,  turned  social  reformer; 
and  his  efforts  to  correct  the  crying  evils  of  the  age  were  not 
confined  to  the  employment  of  his  pen.  In  his  own  parish, 
there  were  eighteen  public  houses, — all  of  them  “ nurseries 
for  sin,  particularly  on  Sunday  evenings.”  He  had  long 
desired  to  correct  these  abuses;  but  had  seldom  been  favoured 
with  the  services  of  a churchwarden  willing  to  second  his 
endeavours.  Now  he  had  one,  who  was  resolved  to  act 
according  to  the  oath  he  had  taken.  Fletcher  visited  several 
of  these  dens  of  iniquity  every  Sunday,  and  all  of  them  in 
their  turn.  In  every  one  of  them,  he  bore  a faithful  testimony 
against  their  wickedness  ; and,  in  some  instances,  his  efforts 
were  attended  with  much  success.^ 


* ‘H^etter  to  Mons.  H.  L.  De  la  Flechere,”  1786,  p.  16. 


526 


Wesley^ s Designated  Successor. 


[1783. 


At  this  period,  trade  was  bad,  taxes  were  crushing,  and 
corn  was  dear.  King  George  the  Third,  in  his  speech  to 

My  Lords  and  Gentlemen,''  the  members  of  the  two  Houses 
of  Parliament,  remarked,  ‘‘  The  scarcity,  and  consequent  high 
price  of  corn,  requires  your  instant  interposition."  Corn  was 
scarce,  and,  in  many  instances,  it  was  bought  and  hoarded 
by  execrable  speculators,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  price 
of  it,  and  increasing  their  own  blood-soaked  profits.  Fletcher 
was  indignant,  and  proposed  the  formation  of  an  association 
of  persons  of  unblemished  character  : — 

''  I.  To  prosecute  legally  all  engrossers  and  forestallers  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life. 

“2.  If  there  be  any  laws  against  those  who  cause  an  artificial  scarcity, 
by  monopolizing  the  necessaries  of  life, — to  apply  to  the  magistrates  to 
put  such  laws  in  force  against  the  offenders, — and,  if,  through  fear  or 
favour,  the  magistrates  refuse,  to  apply  for  redress  to  Quarter  Sessions, 
or  to  the  Court  of  King’s  Bench. 

'‘3.  That  the  members  of  the  Association  subscribe,  according  to 
their  ability,  towards  defraying  the  expense  of  detecting,  and  legally 
prosecuting  the  oifenders.” 

Fletcher  added  : — 

''If  such  a plan  is  entered  upon,  and  carried  on  in  this  county” 
(Salop),  "I  will  gladly  become  a subscriber  of  a ^provided  7io 

illegal  steps  be  taken  by  the  associates ^ 

This  is  copied  from  an  unpublished  manuscript  in  Fletcher's 
own  handwriting.  The  following  also  is  taken  from  another 
original  manuscript,  written  by  Fletcher  : — 

" It  is  proposed — 

" I.  That  Sunday  Schools  be  set  up  in  this  parish,  for  such  children 
as  are  employed  all  the  week,  and  for  those  whose  education  has  been 
neglected. 

"2.  That,  in  those  schools,  children  shall  be  taught  to  read  and  write, 
and  shall  be  instructed  in  the  principles  of  morality  and  piety. 

"3.  That,  in  the  Dale,  in  Madeley,  and  in  Madeley  Wood,  there  shall 
be  a school  for  boys,  and  another  for  girls, — six  schools  in  all. 

"4.  That  £20  be  raised,  by  subscription,  for  this  charity;  namely, 

1 4 for  the  salaries  of  six  teachers  ; which,  at  the  rate  of  one  shilling, 
per  time,  for  fifty-two  Sunday  afternoons,  excepting  Easter- Day  and 
Whit- Sunday,  will  amount  to  fifty  shillings  each  teacher.  The  remaining 

shall  be  laid  out  in  tables,  benches,  books,  paper,  pens,  and  ink. 

"5.  That,  if  the  expenses  incurred  should  run  higher  than  is  here 


Age  54.] 


Sunday  Schools  at  Madeley. 


527 


supposed,  the  subscribers  shall  be  acquainted  with  it,  and  their  charity 
shall  be  again  solicited. 

6.  That,  whosoever  shall  subscribe  a guinea  towards  this  charity 
shall  be  a director  of  it. 

‘*7.  That,  at  a parish  meeting,  two  treasurers  shall  be  appointed  to 
ask  and  to  receive  the  contributions  of  those  who  shall  be  willing  to 
encourage  this  charity. 

‘‘8.  That,  three  or  four  inspectors  shall  be  appointed  to  visit  these 
schools,  to  see  that  the  children  attend  regularly,  and  that  the  masters 
do  their  duty  by  the  children,  and  to  make  their  report  to  the  directors. 

9.  That,  a book  shall  be  provided  by  the  treasurers,  in  which  they, 
or  a secretary  whom  they  shall  appoint,  shall  yearly  enter  the  sums 
subscribed,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  are  laid  out ; and  that  such 
book  shall  be  laid  before  the  subscribers  when  they  shall  desire  it. 

10.  That,  another  book  shall  be  provided,  in  which  the  names  of 
the  masters  and  the  scholars,  belonging  to  each  school,  shall  be  entered. 

“II.  And  lastly,  that,  to  encourage  emulation,  at  a solemn  visitation 
of  these  schools,  once  or  twice  a year,  some  premium  shall  be  given 
to  the  children  who  distinguish  themselves  by  their  assiduity  and 
improvement.’’ 

This  was  rather  elaborate  legislation  for  the  administration 
of  a charity  fund  of  ;^20  a year  ; but  money,  in  1783,  was 
scarce,  and  the  Sunday  School  institution  was  then  in  its 
infancy. 

For  some  years,  Fletcher  had  had  a school  at  Madeley, 
which  he  himself  taught  every  day  ; and  he  had  also  esta- 
blished a similar  school  in  Madeley  Wood.  Now  he  com- 
menced his  Sunday  Schools,  being,  in  this  respect,  almost 
contemporaneous  with  Raikes  at  Gloucester. 

“Three  hundred  children  were  soon  gathered,  whom  he  took  every 
opportunity  of  instructing,  by  regular  meetings,  for  some  time  before 
the  schools  were  opened ; and  these  meetings  he  attended  to  the  very 
last  Thursday  before  his  fatal  illness.  He  gave  the  children  little  hymn- 
books  ; and  pointed  them  to  some  friend  or  neighbour,  who  would  teach 
them  the  hymns,  and  instruct  them  to  sing.  Many  of  the  little  creatures 
would  scarcely  allow  themselves  time  to  eat  or  sleep,  for  the  desire  they 
had  of  learning  their  lessons.  In  every  meeting,  after  inquiring  who 
had  made  the  greatest  proficiency,  he  never  forgot  to  distinguish  it  by 
a little  reward.” 

“ His  proposals  to  the  parish  were  received  with  the  greatest  unan- 
imity. Many,  both  of  the  rich  and  trading  people,  lent  their  helping 
hand,  not  only  to  defray  the  expense  of  teachers,  but  to  raise  a very 
convenient  school-house  in  Coalbrookdale.”^ 


“Letter to  Mons.  H.  L.  De  la  Flechere,  1786,  pp.  17  and  18. 


528 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1783. 


The  ‘‘  Proposals”  were  prefaced  with  a statement  of  ‘‘  the 
advantages  likely  to  arise  from  Sunday  Schools,”  which  was 
as  follows  : — 

Our  parochial  and  national  depravity  turns  upon  two  hinges, — the 
^profanation  of  the  Lord’s  day,  and  the  immorality  from 

neglecting  the  education  of  children.  Till  these  two  great  inlets  of 
wickedness  are  stopped,  we  must  expect  to  see  our  workhouses  full  of 
aged  parents  forsaken  by  their  prodigal  children ; of  wives  deserted 
by  their  faithless  husbands  ; or  of  the  wretched  offspring  of  lewd  women, 
and  idle  and  drunken  men.  Nay,  we  may  expect  to  see  the  jails,  and 
even  the  gallows,  stocked  with  unhappy  wretches,  ready  to  fall  a sacrifice 
to  the  safety  of  their  neighbours,  and  the  penal  laws  of  their  country. 

“ Persons  concerned  for  the  w^elfare  of  the  next  generation,  and  well- 
wishers  to  the  Church  and  State,  have  already  set  us  a fine  example  in 
Stroud,  Gloucester,  Leeds,  Manchester,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  and  in 
several  country  parishes.  They  have  attempted  to  remedy  these  evils 
by  setting  up  Sunday  Schools,  which,  by  keeping  children  from  corrupting 
one  another,  by  promoting  their  attendance  on  Divine  worship,  and  by 
laying  the  first  principles  of  useful  knowledge  in  their  minds,  and  of 
true  piety  in  their  hearts, — bid  fair  for  a public  reformation  of  manners  ; 
and  seem  well  calculated  to  nip  in  the  bud  the  vices  of  ignorance  and 
impiety,  so  common  among  the  lower  and  more  numerous  classes  of  the 
people.”' 

It  may  be  added,  that  the  last  productions  of  Fletcher  s 
pen  were  an  unfinished  catechism,  to  be  used  in  his  Sunday 
Schools;  prayers  to  be  read  by  the  children;  and  ‘‘Hints”  to 
the  teachers.  Among  the  last  mentioned,  were  instructions 
respecting  the  correction  of  any  child  “ guilty  of  lying,  swear- 
ing, Sabbath-breaking,  stealing,  fighting,  or  disobedience  ;” 
and  recommendations  that  the  teachers  should  “ attend  the 
scholars  to  Divine  worship  ” ; that  they  should  “ not  break 
up  too  early  in  the  evening,  tAat  being  the  time  in  which 
children  are  most  likely  to  run  into  temptation;”  and  that 
“ pious  persons  ” should  be  induced  to  “ visit  and  interrogate 
the  children,  in  order  that  the  whole  might  be  carried  on  as 
a business  sanctified  by  the  Word  of  God,  by  prayer,  and  by 
Christian  admonition.”^ 

It  would  not  be  difficult  to  enlarge  on  facts  and  prin- 
ciples such  as  these  ; but  the  intelligent  reader  can  do  this 
himself. 

^ ‘‘  Letter  to  Mons.  H.  L.  De  la  Flechere,”  1786,  p. 

* Ihid,  p.  63. 


Age  54.]  The  Rev,  Henry  Venn  visits  Fletcher. 


529 


Before  leaving  the  year  1783,  one  more  incident  must  be 
introduced.  At  the  close  of  the  year,  the  celebrated  Rev. 
Henry  Venn  visited  Fletcher,  at  Madeley,  and  wrote : — 

Mr.  Fletcher  is  a genius,  and  a man  of  fire — all  on  the  stretch  to  do 
good — to  lose  not  a day,  not  an  hour.  He  is  married  to  a lady  worthy 
of  him.  Miss  Bosanquet,  a lady  with  whom  I was  acquainted  twenty- 
nine  years  ago.  She  was  then  sixteen,  and  bred  up  in  all  the  pride  of 
life ; her  father  being  one  of  the  chief  merchants  of  London.  By  the 
grace  of  God,  she,  at  that  time,  renounced  the  world,  and  gave  up 
herself  to  the  Lord.  Since  then,  she  has  bred  up  seventy-four  destitute 
young  girls  for  service,  and  seen  them  placed  out  to  her  satisfaction  ; 
and,  instead  of  dressing,  visiting,  and  conforming  to  all  the  vain  and 
expensive  customs  of  the  world,  she  has  been  wholly  employed  in  doing 
good.  I left  this  happy  house  as  Cecil,  Secretary  to  Queen  Elizabeth, 
left  Bernard  Gilpin’s,  saying,  'There  dwells  as  much  happiness  as  can 
be  known  on  earth.’  ” ^ 


* "Life  of  Rev.  Henry  Venn,”  p.  377, 


34 


530 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1784- 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

LAST  DAYS  ON  EARTH. 

1784— 1785. 

Fletcher  took  a profound  interest,  not  only  in  Sunday 
Schools,  which  were  being  opened  in  various  places, 
but  in  an  institution  which  has  long  been  the  greatest  of 
which  the  Methodists  can  boast.  In  1783,  Dr.  Coke  and  a 
few  of  his  friends  drew  up  ‘‘  A Plan  of  the  Society  for  the 
Establishment  of  Missions  among  the  Heathen.”  This 
curious  and  most  interesting  document  is  too  long  to  be 
inserted  here.  Suffice  it  to  say,  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  Fletcher  was  one  of  Coke's  counsellors.  It  has  been 
already  stated  that,  in  the  summer  of  1783,  the  Doctor,  on 
his  way  from  Dublin,  called  at  Madeley,  and  preached  in 
Fletcher’s  church.  Soon  after  this,  Fletcher  and  his  wife 
went  to  Dublin  ; and  now,  at  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1784,  Coke  forwarded  to  Fletcher  the  aforesaid  “Plan,” 
and  a list  of  his  missionary  subscribers,  twenty- six  in  number, 
seven  of  whom  resided  in  Dublin.  Is  it  chimerical  to  suppose 
that  the  formation  of  this  Missionary  Society  was  a subject 
of  conversation  between  Coke  and  Fletcher,  when  the  former 
was  at  Madeley,  and  that  it  was  mainly  through  Fletcher’s 
influence  that  so  many  of  its  first  subscribers  were  Dublin 
Methodists  } It  is  a curious  fact  that  neither  of  the  Wesleys 
appeared  in  the  list  of  contributors,  the  reason  perhaps  of 
which  might  be  that  they  had  not  been  consulted  in  drawing 
up  the  “Plan.”  Fletcher,  however,  subscribed  £2  2s.  od.  of 
the  first  year’s  income,  which  amounted  to  £66  3^*.  od.,  and 
to  him  Coke  sent  the  “ Plan  ” and  the  report,  and  also  the 
following  letter  appended  : — 


Age  54.] 


Unpublished  Letter. 


531 


''Near  Plymouth,  January  6,  1784. 

"My  Very  Dear  Sir, — Lest  Mr,  Parker  should  neglect  to  send 
you  one  of  our  Plans  for  the  establishing  of  foreign  Missions,  I take  the 
liberty  of  doing  it.  Ten  subscribers  more,  of  two  guineas  per  annum, 
have  favoured  me  with  their  names.  If  you  can  get  a few  subscribers 
more,  we  shall  be  obliged  to  you. 

" We  have  now  a very  wonderful  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  the  West 
of  Cornwall.  I have  been  obliged  to  make  a winter  campaign  of  it,  and 
preach  here  and  there  out  of  doors. 

" I beg  my  affectionate  respects  to  Mrs.  Fletcher.  I entreat  you  to 
pray  for 

" Your  most  affectionate  Friend  and  Brother, 

"Thomas  Coke.” 

At  this  period,  Fletcher  was  engaged  in  the  last  of  his 
literary  works.  The  following,  hitherto  unpublished  letter, 
may  serve  as  an  introduction  to  the  essays  Fletcher  was 
now  writing.  It  was  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bouverot, 
Geneva  and,  though  without  date,  was  evidently  written  a 
few  days  before  Fletcher’s  memorable  visit  to  Dublin  : — 

"The  Society  of  Christian  Philosophers,  which  you  mention,  seems, 
in  this  day,  to  be  a useful  Institution.  The  most  redoubtable  attacks 
upon  religion  come  from  our  modern  Sadducees,  who  say  there  is  neither 
angel  nor  spirit ; and  the  famous  Dr.  Priestly  openly  maintains  that  we 
have  no  soul,  or,  at  least,  that  it  is  no  other  than  the  animal  spirits.  It 
may  be,  therefore,  that  God,  who  never  leaves  Himself  without  witnesses, 
has  permitted  this  Society  for  the  maintenance  of  a metaphysical  doc- 
trine so  opposite  to  that  of  materialism.  ' Prove  all  things ; hold  fast 
that  which  is  good.’ 

"A  Swedish  gentleman,  called  Baron  Swedenborg,^  published  many 
pieces  in  England,  and  declared  he  had  conversed  with  angels  and 
spirits  for  more  than  forty  years,  and  that  with  as  much  familiarity  as 
with  men.  Some  of  his  works  have  been  translated  into  English.  There 
is  one,  of  which  I have  the  original  Latin  by  me,  entitled,  ' Mirabilia 
Coeli  et  Inferni,’  and  which  I mean  to  send  you  as  soon  as  I shall  find 
a convenient  opportunity.  It  is  certain,  if  believers  were  more  detached 
from  earthly  things,  and  more  concentred  in  Christ  by  faith,  they 
would  converse  with  angels  and  with  the  spirits  of  the  departed  saints, 
as  the  Patriarchs  and  first  Christians  were  accustomed  to  do.  There 
would,  indeed,  in  this,  be  some  danger  of  following  after  piety,  with  a 
view  to  such  an  advantage,  through  a species  of  curiosity,  which,  if  it 
ought  not  to  be  called  the  back  door^  yet  would  not  deserve  to  be 
entitled  the  front,  which  consists  in  an  humble  faith  disengaged  from 
sense  and  from  all  self-seeking,”  etc.,  etc. 


Swedenborg  died  in  1772. 


532 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


I have  not  yet  had  leisure  to  cast  my  eyes  over  my  ‘ Portrait  of  St. 
Paul.’  Next  week,  at  the  invitation  of  many  who  love  the  Word  of  God, 

I mean  to  make  a tour  into  Ireland,  from  whence  I propose  returning 
before  winter.  Mr.  Wesley,  who  is  eighty  years  of  age,  is  now  on  a 
tour  in  the  Low  Countries,  where  he  preaches,  even  at  Amsterdam. 

Assist  me  to  bless  God,  who  has  sustained  me  hitherto,  and  who  is 
my  light  and  my  salvation  in  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever 
and  ever  ! Remember  me  before  God  in  your  prayers,  as  I have  a con- 
tinual remembrance  of  you  in  mine.” 

Fletcher’s  bold  speculation,  respecting  the  possibility  of 
conversing  with  angels  and  the  spirits  of  departed  saints, 
may  be  passed  in  silence.  The  reader’s  attention  must  now 
be  asked  to  the  famous  Dr.  Priestley. 

This  remarkable  man  was  born  at  Fieldhead,  near  Leeds, 
in  1733.  While  a student  at  the  Dissenting  Academy,  kept 
by  Dr.  Ashworth,  at  Daventry,  he  became  an  Arian.  His 
subsequent  career  need  not  here  be  traced.  It  is  enough  to 
say,  that,  about  the  year  1767,  while  he  was  the  minister  of 
a large  congregation  of  Dissenters  at  Leeds,  he  embraced 
Socinianism  ; and  that,  about  1781,  he  wrote  and  published 
his  “ History  of  the  Corruptions  of  Christianity,” — some  of 
the  teachings  of  which  work  Fletcher  felt  it  his  duty  to 
refute.  Dr.  Priestley  died  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  1804. 

It  has  been  already  stated,  that,  early  in  the  year  1785, 
Fletcher  published  a second  and  enlarged  edition  of  his  poem, 
entitled,  ‘‘La  Grace  et  la  Nature.”  At  the  end  of  that  work, 
the  following  advertisement  was  inserted:  “Pret  a etre  public 
en  Anglois  : A Rational  Vindication  of  the  Catholic  Faith, 
respecting  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost : being 
the  First  Part  of  a Scriptural  Vindication  of  Christ’s  Divinity. 
Inscribed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Priestley.” 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Benson,  the  quondam  tutor  of  Lady 
Huntingdon’s  Trevecca  College,  when  Fletcher  was  its  presi- 
dent, says  this  “Rational  Vindication”  was  left  by  Fletcher 
“not  quite  finished;”  which  assertion  seems  to  clash  with 
Fletcher’s  own  advertisement  just  given.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  it  was  as  finished  as  Fletcher  meant  it  to  be  ; though 
not  as  complete  as  Mr.  Benson  thought  it  ought  to  be,  and 
as  he  himself  tried  to  make  it.  In  addition  to  this,  how- 
ever, Fletcher  began  a second  essay,  entitled,  “ Socinianism 


Age  54.]  Rational  Vindication  of  the  Catholic  Faith. 533 


Unscriptural  ; or,  the  Prophets  and  Apostles  vindicated  from 
the  Charge  of  holding  the  Doctrine  of  Christ’s  mere  Humanity: 
being  the  Second  Part  of  a Vindication  of  His  Divinity. 
Inscribed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Priestley.”  The  first  of  these  was 
intended  to  be  an  answer  to  Priestley’s  assertion  that  “ the 
doctrine  of  the  Trinity  is  irrational;”  and  the  second  to  refute 
his  equally  unfounded  dogma,  that,  the  doctrine  of  Christ’s 
“divinity  has  no  proper  foundation  in  the  Old  Testament, — 
the  prophets  speaking  of  the  Messiah  only  as  a man  like 
themselves  nor  in  the  “ New  Testament, — the  Apostles 
never  giving  our  Lord  any  higher  title  than  that  of  a man 
approved  of  God.”  In  Mr.  Benson’s  opinion,  both  of  the 
essays  were  left  unfinished  ; and  it  is  certain  that  neither 
of  them  was  published  in  Fletcher’s  lifetime.  Rightly  or 
wrongly,  Mr.  Benson — a very  able  theologian — undertook, 
after  Fletcher’s  death,  to  write  supplements  to  both,  and  then 
published  them  ; and  these  irrefutable  productions  of  Mr. 
Benson’s  pen  have,  ever  since  1818,  when  he  was  the 
Methodist  Connexional  Editor,  been  improperly  incorporated 
in  Fletcher’s  “ Collected  Works.”  Mr.  Benson’s  additions  to 
Fletcher’s  essays  are  invaluable  ; but  they  ought,  in  fairness 
to  both  authors,  to  be  published  separately.  On  this  subject, 
however,  nothing  more  need  be  added.  Fletcher’s  replies  to 
Priestley,  which  were  printed  a few  years  subsequent  to  his 
death,^  were  revised  by  Wesley,  who  writes,  in  his  Journal  : — 

1784,  Saturday,  March  27.  I went  to  Madeley ; and,  at  Mr.  Fletcher’s 
desire,  revised  his  letters  to  Dr.  Priestley.  I think  there  is  hardly  another 


‘ The  titles  were  : — i.  ''A  Rational  Vindication  of  the  Catholic  Faith : 
being  the  First  Part  of  a Vindication  of  Christ’s  Divinity;  inscribed  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Priestley,  by  J.  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Salop.  Left 
imperfect  by  the  Author,  and  now  revised  and  finished^  at  Mrs.  Fletcher’s 
request,  by  Joseph  Benson,  Hull.”  i2mo,  223  pp.  No  date,  but  pub- 
lished in  1788  or  1789.  The  work  consists  of  fourteen  chapters,  only 
four  of  which  were  written  by  Fletcher.  The  remaining  ten  were  Mr. 
Benson’s  productions. 

2.  ‘‘ Socinianism  Unscriptural;  or,  the  Prophets  and  Apostles  vin- 
dicated from  the  Charge  of  holding  the  Doctrine  of  Christ’s  mere 
Humanity : being  the  Second  Part  of  a Vindication  of  His  Divinity : 
inscribed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Priestley,  by  the  late  Rev.  John  Fletcher, 
Vicar  of  Madeley,  Salop.  To  which  is  added,  a Demonstration  of  the 
want  of  Common  Sense  in  the  New  Testament  Writers,  etc.,  etc.,  in  a 
Series  of  Letters  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley,  by  Joseph  Benson.  Bir- 
mingham: 1791.’^  i2mo,  239pp.  Fletcher’s  part  of  the  volume  occupies 
1 18  pages. 


534 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


man  in  England  so  fit  to  encounter  him. — Sunday,  28.  Notwithstanding 
the  severe  weather,  the  church  was  more  than  filled.  I preached  on 
part  of  the  Epistle  (Heb.  ix.  13,  etc.) ; in  the  afternoon,  on  ‘ the  grace 
of  God  that  bringeth  salvation  ; ^ and  I believe  God  applied  it  to  many 
hearts.’’ 

Never  has  there  been  a time  when  there  was  more  need 
of  essays  like  those  of  Fletcher  than  that  which  is  now 
passing.  Socinianism,  in  various  shapes,  even  among  many 
who  think  themselves  orthodox,  is  rampant ; and  the  Metho- 
dist Book  Committee  would  render  incalculable  service  to 
the  cause  of  Christian  truth,  by  publishing  in  a separate  form, 
and  at  as  cheap  a price  as  possible,  Fletcher's  two  unanswer- 
able replies  to  the  redoubtable  Dr.  Priestley. 

In  his  “ Expostulatory  Letter,"  Fletcher  writes  : — 

While  you  invite  archdeacons  and  bishops  to  defend  their  church 
and  the  divinity  of  their  Saviour,  may  the  voice  of  a poor  country  vicar 
be  heard  amidst  the  groans  of  the  press  which  repeats  your  challenges  ? 
Will  not  your  sense  of  honour  feel  too  great  a disappointment  in  seeing 
so  mean  a person  step  forth  to  present  you  with  an  expostulatory  letter, 
and  to  break  a spear  with  you,  on  the  very  ground  where  you  think 
yourself  invincible, — philosophy,  reason,  and  common  sense  ? 

“ Conscious  of  the  variety  of  your  learning,  and  the  greatness  of  your 
reputation,  I apologize  for  my  boldness,  by  observing,  that  the  Church 
is  my  mother ; that  the  feeblest  child  has  a right  to  cry  out  when  his 
mother  is  stabbed  to  the  heart ; and  that,  when  the  Divine  crown  of  our 
Lord  is  publicly  struck  at,  the  least  of  believers  may  show  his  astonish- 
ment at  the  antichristian  deed. 

'‘When  the  Socinians  of  the  last  century  said  that  it  was  impossible 
to  believe  God  and  man  were  united  in  the  person  of  our  Lord,  the 
Catholics  replied,  it  was  as  easy  to  believe  that  God  and  man  make  one 
Christ,  as  to  believe  that  the  immortal  soul  and  the  mortal  body  are  one 
man.  And  Dr.  Sherlock  added,  that  the  best  way  for  the  Socinians  to 
set  aside  this  argument  against  the  mystery  of  our  Lord’s  incarnation, 
was  to  deny  the  union  of  soul  and  body,  because  they  could  not  under- 
stand it;  and  openly  to  maintain,  that  man  is  a body  without  a soul,  a 
compound  of  mere  matter. 

"When  that  judicious  divine  dropped  this  hint,  he  little  thought  that 
some  philosophers  of  our  day  would  be  so  desperately  bent  upon  divesting 
Christ  of  His  Divine  glory,  that  they  would  be  content  to  die  like  dogs, 
without  leaving  any  surviving  part  of  themselves,  so  that  they  might  win 
the  day  against  the  Catholic  Church,  and  the  divinity  of  our  Lord. 

" I am  sorry  to  observe  that  you  have  the  dangerous  honour  to  be  at 
the  head  of  these  bold  philosophers.  Dr.  Berkeley  was  so  singular  as 
to  deny  the  existence  of  matter.  According  to  his  doctrine,  there  is 
nothing  but  spirit  in  the  world,  and  matter  exists  only  in  our  ideas.  As 


Age  54.]  Fletcher^  s Replies  to  Dr,  Priestley, 


535 


a rival  of  his  singularity,  you  run  into  the  opposite  extreme  ; you  anni- 
hilate our  souls ; you  turn  us  into  mere  machines  ; we  are  nothing  but 
matter ; and  if  you  allow  us  any  spirit,  it  is  only  such  as  can  be  distilled 
like  spirits  of  wine.  Thus,  if  we  believe  you  both,  being  ground  not 
only  to  atoms  but  to  absolute  nonentity  betw’een  the  two  millstones  of 
your  preposterous  and  contrary  mistakes,  we  have  neither  form  nor 
substance,  neither  body  nor  soul ! 

‘‘  Glad  am  I,  Sir,  that  when  you  made  so  free  with  the  souls  of  men 
you  did  not  pass  your  philosophical  sponge  over  the  existence  of  the 
Father  of  spirits,  the  great  Soul  which  gives  life  and  motion  to  the 
universe.  But,  though  you  spare  the  Father’s  dignity,  you  attack  the 
Son’s  divinity;  you  deny  the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
and,  by  hasty  strides,  you  carry  us  back  to  a dwarf,  mongrel  Christianity, 
made  up  of  materialism,  Judaism,  and  the  baptism  of  John. 

To  gain  this  inglorious  end,  in  your  ‘ Histoty  of  the  Corruptions  of 
Christianity  ’ you  collect  the  capital  errors  invented  by  fallen  Christians 
in  the  corrupt  ages  of  Christianity ; then,  taking  some  of  the  most 
precious  Gospel  truths,  you  blend  them  with  these  errors,  and  rendering 
them  all  equally  odious,  you  turn  them  promiscuously  out  of  the  Church 
as  the  ‘ Corruptions  of  Christianity.’  Thus  you  cleanse  the  temple  of 
truth  as  our  Lord  w^ould  have  cleansed  that  of  Jerusalem,  if  he  had 
thrown  dowm  the  tables  of  show-bread  as  well  as  the  tables  of  the  money 
changers,  and  if  He  had  turned  out  the  cherubim  of  glory  as  He  did  the 
beasts  which  deflled  that  holy  place.  In  short,  you  treat  our  Lord’s 
divinity  as  the  Jews  treated  His  humanity  when  they  numbered  Him 
with  felons,  that  the  mob  might  cry  with  a show  of  piety,  ‘ Away  with 
Him  ! Crucify  Him  ! ’ with  the  thieves.  His  accursed  companions  ! ” 

On  the  mysterious  and  holy  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  in 
unity,  Fletcher  writes  : — 

"‘That  there  is  a Supreme,  Infinite,  and  Eternal  Mind  by  which  the 
world  was  made,  is  evident  from  the  works  of  creation  and  providence. 
Every  leaf  of  the  trees  which  cover  a thousand  hills,  every  spire  of  the 
grass  which  clothes  a thousand  vales,  echoes,  ‘ There  is  a God.’  But 
the  peculiar  mode  of  His  existence  is  far  above  our  reach.  Of  this  we 
only  know  what  He  plainly  reveals  to  us,  and  what  we  may  infer  from 
what  He  hath  plainly  revealed ; for  sooner  shall  the  vilest  insect  find 
out  the  nature  of  man,  than  the  brightest  man  shall  of  himself  discover 
the  nature  of  God. 

“ It  is  agreed  on  all  hands  that  the  Supreme  Being,  compared  with 
all  other  beings,  is  One, — one  Creator  over  numberless  creatures,  one 
Infinite  Being  over  myriads  of  finite  beings,  one  Eternal  Intelligence 
over  millions  of  temporary  intelligences.  The  distance  between  the 
things  made  and  Him  that  made  them  being  boundless,  the  living  God 
must  stand  for  ever  far  higher  above  all  that  lives,  than  the  sun  stands 
superior  to  all  the  beams  it  emits,  and  to  all  the  tapers  lighted  at  its  fire. 
In  this  sense,  true  Christians  are  all  Unitarians  : God  having  plainly 


536 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


revealed  His  unity  by  the  prophets,  by  the  Apostles,  and  by  our  Lord 
Himself,  there  is  no  doubt  about  this  point.  And  may  the  hand  which 
writes  these  sheets  wither  a thousand  times  over  rather  than  it  should 
designedly  write  one  word  against  this  glorious  and  ever-adorable  unity  ! 

But  although  the  Supreme  Being  is  One  when  He  is  compared  to 
all  created  beings,  shall  we  quarrel  with  Him  when  He  informs  us  that 
notwithstanding  he  has  no  second  in  the  universe  of  creatures,  yet,  in 
Himself,  He  exists  in  a wonderful  manner,  insomuch  that  His  own 
eternal  and  perfect  essence  subsists,  without  division  or  separation, 
under  three  adorable  distinctions,  which  are  called  sometimes  ‘ the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ; ’ and  sometimes  ‘ the  Father, 
the  Word,  and  the  Spirit ' ? ‘ Shall  the  thing  formed  say  to  Him  that 

formed  it.  Why  hast  Thou  made  me  thus  ? ’ or.  Why  dost  Thou  exist  after 
such  a manner  ? 

Fletcher  then  proceeds  to  describe  the  different  opponents 
of  his  doctrine  ; namely, — 

TritheistSy  who  so  unscripturally  distinguish  the  Divine  Persons 
as  to  divide  and  separate  them  into  three  deities ; and  who,  by  this 
means,  run  into  polytheism,  or  the  belief  of  many  gods.  Ditheists^ 
generally  called  Arians,  who  worship  two  gods,  a great  god  and  a little 
god ; the  former  uncreate,  the  latter  created ; the  former  God  by 
nature,  and  the  latter  only  by  courtesy.  Deists y who  so  unscripturally 
maintain  the  unity  of  the  Divine  essence  as  to  admit  but  one  Divine 
subsistence;’’  and  who  include  Jews,  Mahometans,  Infidels,  and 
Socinians. 

Fletcher  next  undertakes  to  show  and  prove  that  God  the 
Father  has  a proper  Son,  by  whom  He  made  the  world  ; 
that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  claimed  the  divine  honour  of  being 
this  Son  ; that  He  is  the  Redeemer  and  Saviour  of  lost  man- 
kind ; that  He  is  to  be  the  final  and  universal  Judge  ; and 
that  divine  worship  was  paid  to  Him  by  patriarchs,  prophets, 
and  Apostles,  and  is  His  undoubted  right. 

Fletcher’s  second  pamphlet,  entitled  Socinianism  Un- 
scriptural,”  consists  of  eight  letters,  addressed  to  Dr. 
Priestley,  in  which  he  shows  that  Socinians  err  when  they 
assert  that  the  prophets  always  spoke  of  the  Messiah  as  of  a 
mere  man  like  themselves.  He  proves  that  our  first  parents 
expected  a Divine  Messiah,  and  that  the  Divine  Person  who 
appeared  to  the  patriarchs,  and  to  Moses,  was  Jehovah,  the 
Son,  or  Christ  in  His  pre-existent  state  ; that  the  foundation 
of  the  proofs  of  Christ’s  divinity,  in  the  writings  of  the 
prophets,  is  laid  in  the  three  original  prophecies  (Gen.  hi.  i 5, 


Age  54.] 


Fletcher^  Millenarianism. 


537 


xxii.  16,  etc.,  and  xlix.  8-10),  recorded  by  Moses  concerning 
the  Messiah  ; that  all  the  prophets  bear  witness  to  His  God- 
head, as  do  also  the  Evangelists  and  Apostles. 

This  is  a meagre  outline  of  Fletcher  s exceedingly  able 
pamphlet,  but  nothing  more  can  be  here  attempted.  Two 
brief  extracts,  however,  may  be  added,  illustrative  of  his 
style  : — 

I have  proved  that  the  king  of  Israel  who  brought  his  people  out  of 
Egypt  was  Christ,  in  His  pre-existent  nature.  Moses  was  the  prime 
minister  of  this  great  King;  Joshua,  the  general  of  His  armies;  the 
tabernacle.  His  palace  ; the  mercy-seat.  His  throne  ; the  ark,  His  royal 
standard ; the  priests.  His  officers ; the  Levites,  His  guards  ; and  the 
shekinah,  the  visible  display  of  His  presence.” 

Read,  dear  Sir,  the  Scriptures  without  the  veil  of  your  system,  and 
you  will  see  that  the  Messiah,  the  wonderful  Person  whom  you  so  con- 
stantly endeavour  to  degrade,  was  to  be  a mediating  Prophet,  like 
Moses  ; an  atoning  Priest,  like  Aaron  ; a pacific  King,  like  Solomon  ; 
a royal  Prophet,  like  David  ; a kingly  Priest,  like  Melchisedec ; the 
Everlasting  Father,  as  the  Logos  by  whom  all  things  were  created;  and 
the  Mighty  God,  as  the  proper  Son  of  Him  with  whom  He  shares,  in  the 
unity  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  the  supreme  title  of  ‘J^^ovah,  Lord  of  hosts.* 

It  has  been  already  shown  in  a letter  which  Fletcher 
addressed  to  Wesley  in  1/5  5,  the  year  of  his  conversion, 
that  he  was  what  is  commonly  called  a Millenarian.  Twenty- 
nine  years  had  elapsed  since  then.  During  this  long  interval, 
no  man  had  been  a more  diligent  and  devout  student  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  than  himself,  and  yet  his  Millenarian  belief 
remained  unchanged.  Hence  the  following  remarkable  pas- 
sage in  his  Socinianism  Unscriptural.”  After  quoting  and 
paraphrasing  Isa.  Ixvi.  15-24,  Fletcher  proceeds  to  say  : — 

Here  ends  Isaiah’s  account  of  that  glorious  reign  of  Jehovah-Shiloh, 
which  the  fathers  called  the  ' Millennium,’  as  being  to  last  a thousand 
years,  and  during  which  it  is  probable  our  Lord  will  use  these  extraordi- 
nary means  to  keep  all  the  nations  in  the  way  of  obedience: — i.  A 
constant  display  of  His  goodness  over  all  the  earth,  but  particularly  in 
and  about  Jerusalem,  where  the  Lord  will  manifest  His  glory,  and  bless 
His  happy  subjects  with  new  manifestations  of  His  presence  every 
Lord’s  day  and  every  new  moon.  2.  A distinguishing  interposition  of 
Providence  which  will  withhold  the  Messiah’s  wonted  blessings  from  the 
disobedient  (Zech.  xiv.  17).  3.  The  constant  endeavours  of  the  saints, 

martyrs,  patriarchs,  prophets,  and  Apostles,  raised  from  the  dead  and 
conversing  with  men,  as  Moses  and  Elijah  did  with  our  Lord’s  disciples 


538 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


upon  the  mount,  where  they  were  indulged  with  a view  of  His  glorified 
person,  and  of  His  ‘kingdom  come  with  power.’  These  glorified  high 
priests  and  kings,  as  ministers  and  lieutenants  of  the  Messiah,  will  rule 
all  churches  and  states  with  unerring  wisdom  and  unwarped  fidelity. 
4.  The  care  that  the  Lord  Himself  will  take  to  set  apart  for  the  ministry, 
under  His  glorified  saints,  those  who  in  every  nation  shall  distinguish 
themselves  by  their  virtue  and  piety.  This  seems  to  be  the  meaning  of 
His  own  words  : ‘And  when  they  shall  come  out  of  all  nations  to  My 
holy  mountain,  I will  take  of  them  for  priests  and  Levites,  saith  the 
Lord,’  Isaiah  Ixvi.  20,  21.  5.  A standing  display  of  the  ministration 

of  condemnation,  as  appears  from  Isaiah  Ixvi.  24,  and  from  other  parallel 
Scriptures.  6.  At  the  same  time  that  the  ministration  of  condemnation 
will  powerfully  work  upon  the  fears  of  mankind  to  keep  men  in  the  way 
of  duty,  an  occasional  display  of  the  ministration  of  righteous  mercy  will 
work  upon  their  hopes.  How  will  those  hopes  be  fired  when  they  shall 
‘ see  the  Lamb  ’ of  God  ‘ standing  on  the  Mount  Sion,  and  with  Him  ’ 
His  ‘hundred  and  forty-four  thousand  ’ worthies,  ‘having  His  Father’s 
name/  Divine  Majesty,  Irresistible  Power,  Ineffable  Love,  and  Bliss 
Inexpressible,  ‘ written  on  their  foreheads  ! ’ (Rev.  xiv).  But,  7.  What 
will  peculiarly  tend  to  keep  men  from  lapsing  into  rebellion  against  God 
will  be  the  long  life  of  the  godly,  and  the  untimely  death  of  those  who 
shall  offer  to  tread  the  paths  of  iniquity.  The  godly  shall  attain  to  the 
years  of  antediluvian  patriarchs,  and  the  wicked  shall  not  live  out  half 
their  days ; they  shall  not  live  above  a hundred  years  ; or,  to  speak 
after  our  manner,  they  shall  die  in  their  childhood.  This  seems  to  be 
Isaiah’s  meaning  in  Isaiah  Ixv.  17-25.’^ 

Leaving  it  to  others  to  advocate  or  to  attack  these  inter- 
pretations of  Scripture,  the  present  writer  will  only  add,  that 
thus  full  of  firm  unwavering  faith  in  the  Divine  majesty  and 
glorious  kingship  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the 
devout  and  reverent  Fletcher  drew  near  to  the  mysterious 
spirit-world. 

In  harmony  with  all  this,  Fletcher  wrote  to  his  friend, 
Mr.  Henry  Brooke,  of  Dublin,  as  follows  : — 

“ Madeley,  April  27,  1784. 

“My  Dear  Brother, — Mercy,  peace,  and  perfect  love  attend  you, 
and  your  dear  partner,  and  the  dear  friends  who  live  under  your  roof ; 
and  with  whom  I beg  you  may  abide  under  the  cross,  till,  with  John, 
Mary,  and  Salome,  you  all  can  say,  ‘ We  are  crucified  with  Him,  and 
the  life  we  now  live,  we  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved 
us,  and  gave  Himself  for  us.’ 

“ With  respect  to  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  it  is  at  hand;  whatever  false 
wisdom  and  unbelief  may  whisper  to  our  hearts.  It  can  be  no  farther 
off  than  the  presence  of  Him,  who  fills  all  in  all, 

“ With  respect  to  what  you  say  of  the  kingdom  not  coming  with  the 


Age  54.]  Unpublished  Letter  to  Mrs.  Smyth. 


539 


outward  pomp,  which  is  observable  by  the  men  of  the  world,  it  is  strictly 
true  ; but  that  there  is  an  inward  display  oi ppower  and  glory  under 
Pentecostal  Christianity  is  undeniable,  both  from  our  Lord's  ^promises 
to  His  imperfect  disciples,  and  from  their  experiences  after  the  kingdom 
of  God  was  come  to  them  with  power.  To  wait  in  deep  resignation,  and 
with  a constant  attention  to  what  the  Lord  will  please  to  do  or  say 
concerning  us  and  His  Church ; and  to  leave  to  Him  the  times  a?id 
seasons^  is  what  I am  chiefly  called  to  do ; taking  care  to  avoid  falling 
into  either  speculation  careless  of  action,  or  into  the  activity  which  is 
devoid  of  spirituality.  I would  not  have  a lamp  without  oil ; and  I 
could  not  have  oil  without  a lamp,  and  a vessel  to  hold  it  in  for  myself, 
and  to  communicate  it  to  others. 

‘‘  Fare  you  all  well  in  Christ ! So  prays 

‘‘John  Fletcher.”^ 

On  the  day  that  Fletcher  penned  the  foregoing,  his  wife 
wrote  as  follows  to  Mrs.  Smyth,  their  hostess  in  Dublin. 
The  letter,  however,  was  signed,  ‘‘  John  and  Mary  Fletcher,” 
and  has  not  before  been  published.  It  furnishes  a glimpse 
of  the  Madeley  Methodists  : — 


April  2^,  1784. 

‘ ‘ My  Very  Dear  Madam,  —If  anything  I said  in  my  last  was  attended 
with  a blessing,  I give  glory  to  my  adorable  Father.  I am  ready  to 
wonder  that  He  ever  works  by  so  poor  a worm. 

‘‘I  wish  you  had  been  with  us  yesterday  morning,  in  our  upper  chamber, 
to  hear  the  simple  tales  of  our  dear  women.  Do  you  remember  a little 
woman,  who  sat  in  the  window  of  the  room  when  you  met  the  class,  and 
who  expressed  great  desire  for  more  of  the  life  of  God  ? It  was  she  who 
lived  on  horse-beans  so  many  weeks,  while  suckling  twins,  for  fear  of 
running  into  debt  for  bread.  She  has,  since  then,  been  greatly  exercised 
by  poverty,  temptation,  and  illness ; but,  in  all,  her  desire  for  the  pure 
image  of  God  seemed  to  rise  above  every  other  wish  ; and,  about  a fort- 
night ago,  the  Lord  poured  out  upon  her  such  an  abundance  of  His 
Spirit,  that  nature  almost  sank  beneath  it.  She  told  us  yesterday,  that 
every  moment  she  seems  to  be  so  surrounded  with  God,  and  so  penetrated 
with  His  love,  that,  said  she,  ‘ I cannot  help,  many  times  in  the  day, 
stopping  in  the  midst  of  my  work,  when  alone,  to  shout  aloud.  Glory ! 
Glory ! Glory ! My  very  heart  is  glad.  Yes,  my  heart  is  so  glad,  I 
could  shout  from  morning  till  night ; but,  oh  ! I can  think  of  no  words 
to  tell  what  I see  and  feel  of  Jesus.  I can  choose  nothing  : I know  no 
will — no  choice  : the  will  of  God  is  my  all.'  Had  you  heard  her  speak, 
and  also  two  others  who  have  just  found  the  Lord,  you  would  have  wept 
tears  of  love  and  joy. 


^ Thirteen  Original  Letters  of  the  Rev.  John  Fletcher."  Bath,  1791, 

p.  36. 


540 


Wesley^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


Our  love  to  Dr.  Coke  ; and  thank  him  for  his  two  letters,  which  we 
have  received. 

Begging  our  tender  regards  to  all  our  dear  Christian  friends,  we 
remain,  with  kindest  remembrance  and  grateful  acknowledgment  to  our 
dear  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smyth,  their  sincere  though  unworthy  friends, 

“ John  and  Mary  Fletcher.'’ 

The  next  is  a letter  whigh,  I believe,  has  not  before  been 
published.  It  was  addressed  to  a sister  of  Lady  Mary 
Fitzgerald,  and  is  full  of  faith  in  Christ  : — 

Christ  Jesus  is  alone  the  desirable,  the  everlasting  distinction  and 
honour  of  men.  All  other  advantages  are  like  the  down  on  the  thistle, 
blown  away  in  a moment.  Riches  are  incapable  of  satisfying ; friends 
are  changeable ; dear  relations  are  taken  away  with  a stroke ; but, 
amid  all  the  changes  of  life,  Christ  is  a Rock.  To  see  Him  by  faith,  to 
lay  hold  on  Him,  to  rely  on  Him,  to  live  upon  Him,  this — this  is  the 
refuge  from  the  storm,  the  shadow  from  the  heat. 

**  In  order  that  you  may  obtain  it,  nothing  more  or  less  is  required, 
on  your  part,  than  a full  and  frequent  confession  of  your  own  abominable 
heart ; and  kneeling,  as  a true  beggar,  at  the  door  of  mercy,  declaring 
you  come  there  only  expecting  notice  and  relief  because  God  our  Saviour 
came  to  redeem  incarnate  devils  and  to  convert  them  into  saints. 

I think  you  take  a sure  method  to  perplex  yourself  if  you  look  at 
yourself  for  proof  of  faith.  Others  must  see  it  in  your  works  ; but  you 
must  feel  it  in  your  heart.  The  glory  of  Jesus  is,  by  faith,  realized  to 
the  mind  in  some  such  manner  as  an  infinitely  grand  and  beauteous 
object  in  the  firmament  of  heaven  arrests  the  spectator  on  itself.  It 
captivates  him  ; and,  by  the  pleasure  it  imparts,  he  is  led  on  to  view  it. 
So  it  is  with  Jesus,  our  peace,  strength,  righteousness,  salvation. 

For  my  own  part,  I am  often  tempted  to  suspect  whether  I am  not 
speaking  great  swelling  words  of  Christ,  and  yet  am  myself  nothing 
more  than  sounding  brass,  or  a tinkling  cymbal ; and  I find  that  the 
only  successful  way  of  answering  this  doubt  is  an  immediate  address  to 
Jesus  Christ,  and  prayer  to  Him,  to  this  effect:  ‘Whosoever  cometh 
unto  Thee,  Thou  wilt  in  no  wise  cast  out.  Lord,  have  I not  come  unto 
Thee  ? Am  I not  depending  on  Thee  for  life,  as  a brand  plucked  out 
of  the  fire  ? See  if  there  be  any  way  of  wickedness  in  me,  and  lead  me 
in  the  way  everlasting  ! ’ 

“ My  eyes  look  to  the  blessed  Jesus ; my  heart  longs  to  be  more  in 
His  service  ; I mourn  my  corruptions  ; they  are  many  and  great.  When 
I look  at  Him,  and  contemplate  His  finished  salvation,  I admire,  I adore, 
in  some  measure  I love.  When  I look  at  myself,  my  heart  rises  at  the 
sight, — black  and  selfish,  proud  and  carnal,  covetous  and  unclean.  I 
want  all  things  that  are  good;  but,  oh  ! I have  a blessed  Lord  Christ, 
in  whom  all  fulness  dwells  for  me,  and  for  my  dear  friend  to  whom  I am 
writing, — a fulness  of  pardon,  wisdom,  holiness,  strength,  peace,  salva- 
tion, righteousness, — a fulness  of  mercy,  goodness,  truth, — all  this,  and 


Age  54-]  Fletcher  at  Wesley's  Conference  in  1784.  541 


ten  thousand  times  more,  without  condition,  without  qualification,  without 
workings,  without  servings,  only  for  receiving.  O blessed  free  grace  of 
God  ! What  a gift ! And  for  whom  ? My  dear  friend,  for  you.  What 
says  the  everlasting  God?  ‘ Believe  He  gave  His  Son  for  sinners.’  Can 
God  lie  ? Impossible  ! Can  we  have  a better  foundation  to  build  upon 
than  the  promise  and  the  oath  of  God  ? 

“ My  very  dear  friend,  I know  you  will  not  be  angry  at  my  preach- 
ment. I aim  all  I say  at  my  own  heart.  I stand  more  in  need  of  it 
than  you ; and  I always  feel  my  heart  refreshed  when  I am*  talking  or 
thinking  of  the  blessed  Jesus.  But  oh  ! how  little  I know  of  Him  ! 

0 Thou  light  of  the  world,  enlighten  me  ! Teach  me  to  know  more  of 
Thy  infinite,  unsearchable  riches,  that  I may  love  Thee  with  an  increas- 
ing love,  and  serve  Thee  with  an  increasing  zeal  till  Thou  bring  me  to 
glory!” 

Gratitude  was  one  of  Fletcher’s  characteristics.  Hence, 
when  the  son  of  his  dead  friend,  Mr.  Charles  Greenwood,  of 
Stoke  Newington,  visited  him  at  Madeley,  he  wrote  to  the 
loving  widow  : — 

“Madeley,  June  20,  1784.  The  sight  of  Mr.  Greenwood,  in  his  son, 
has  brought  some  of  my  Newington  scenes  to  my  remembrance,  and 

1 beg  leave  to  convey  my  tribute  of  thanks  by  his  hands.  Thanks  I 
Thanks  1 What,  nothing  but  words  ? There  is  my  humbling  case. 
I wish  to  requite  your  manifold  kindnesses,  but  I cannot.  I must  be 
satisfied  to  be  ever  your  insolvent  debtor.  Nature  and  grace  do  not  love 
it.  Proud  nature  lies  uneasy  under  great  obligations ; and  thankful 
grace  w*ould  be  glad  to  put  something  in  the  scale  opposite  to  that 
which  you  have  filled  with  so  many  favours.  But  what  shall  I put  ? 
I wish  I could  send  you  all  the  Bank  of  England,  and  all  the  Gospel  of 
Christ ; but  the  first  is  not  mine,  and  the  second  is  already  yours.'' ^ 

Wesley’s  annual  Conference,  in  1784,  was  held  at  Leeds. 
He  writes,  in  his  Journal : — 

“ 1784,  Tuesday,  July  27.  Our  Conference  began  ; at  which  four  of 
our  brethren,  after  long  debate  (in  which  Mr.  Fletcher  '^  took  much 
pains),  acknowledged  their  fault,  and  all  that  was  past  was  forgotten. 
Thursday,  July  29,  being  the  public  Thanksgiving  Day,  as  there  was 
not  room  for  us  in  the  old  church,  I read  prayers,  as  well  as  preached, 
at  our  Room.  I admired  the  whole  service  for  the  day.  The  prayers. 
Scriptures,  and  every  part  of  it,  pointed  at  one  thing;  ' Beloved,  if  God 
so  loved  us,  we  ought  also  to  love  one  another.’  Having  five  clergymen 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  300. 

^ Before  attending  the  Conference,  Fletcher  visited  Miss  Ritchie, 
who  wrote:  “ 1784,  July  16.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fletcher  visited  Otley.  I 
was  truly  blessed  and  edified  by  their  society.  Our  house  was  full  of 
company.”  (“  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Mortimer,”  by  Agnes  Bulmer,  p.  97.) 


542 


Wesleys  Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


to  assist  me,  we  administered  the  Lord’s  Supper,  as  was  supposed,  to 
sixteen  or  seventeen  hundred  persons.  Sunday,  August  i.  We  were 
fifteen  clergymen  at  the  old  church.  Tuesday,  August  3.  Our  Con- 
ference concluded  in  much  love,  to  the  great  disappointment  of  all.” 

Such  is  Wesley’s  brief  account  of  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant Conferences  he  ever  held,  and  the  last  which  Fletcher 
had  the  opportunity  of  attending.  During  the  year,  Dr.  Coke 
had  begun  the  Methodist  Foreign  Missionary  Society  ; and 
Wesley  had  signed  and  sealed  his  famous  “ Deed  of  Decla- 
ration,” constituting,  for  all  time  to  come,  the  Legal  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodists,  and  defining  the  powers  and  duties 
of  its  members.  Charles  Atmore,  who  was  present,  relates,^ 
that,  on  the  Sunday  evening  before  the  Conference  opened, 
the  congregation,  assembled  to  hear  Wesley,  was  four  times 
greater  than  the  chapel  could  contain,  and,  therefore,  Wesley 
‘‘  preached  in  a field  adjoining,  on  the  judgment  of  the  great 
day.”  On  Monday  morning,  Fletcher  “ preached  an  excellent 
sermon  from  Matt.  v.  13 — 16,  ‘Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth,’” 
etc.  At  night,  Wesley  took  for  his  text,  “ Give  the  king  Thy 
judgments,  O God,  and  Thy  righteousness  unto  the  king’s 
son.”  On  Tuesday  morning,  at  five  o’clock,  Henry  Moore 
delivered  a sermon  founded  upon  “ Casting  all  your  care 
upon  Him  ; for  He  careth  for  you.”  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  service,  Wesley  “ opened  the  Conference;”  and,  in  the 
evening  of  the  day,  preached  from,  “ Even  the  very  hairs  of 
your  head  are  all  numbered,”  etc.  Next  morning,  July  28, 
at  five  o’clock,  the  text  of  Thomas  Taylor  was,  “What 
then  > notwithstanding,  every  way,  whether  in  pretence,  or 
in  truth,  Christ  is  preached  ; and  I therein  do  rejoice,  yea, 
and  will  rejoice.”  At  night,  Wesley  preached  from,  “ Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.”  Thursday,  July  29,  “was 
a high  day  indeed.”  At  five  a.m.  Thomas  Hanby  discoursed 
on  “ My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,”  etc.  In  the  forenoon, 
Wesley  expounded  and  enforced  i Cor.  xiii.  i — 4,  “Though 
I speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angels,  and  have 
not  charity,”  etc.  Then  followed  the  sacramental  service,  in 
which  Wesley  was  assisted  by  Fletcher,  Coke,  Cornelius 


Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine y 1845,  p.  12. 


Age  54]  Fletcher  at  Wesley^ s Co7iference  in  1784.  543 


Bayley,  who  had  been  Fletcher’s  curate,  Mr.  Dillon,  an 
ordained  clergyman  from  Ireland,  and  the  well-known  David 
Simpson,  of  Macclesfield,  the  services  of  the  day  being  con- 
cluded with  another  sermon  from  Wesley,  on  the  text,  “ This 
is  the  first  and  great  commandment.”  At  five  a.m.  on  Friday, 
July  30,  Joseph  Pilmoor  preached  from  “I  have  set  the 
Lord  always  before  me  ; because  he  is  at  my  right  hand, 

I shall  not  be  moved  ; and,  at  night,  Fletcher,  from,  “ These 
all  having  obtained  a good  report  through  faith,  received  not 
the  promise  : God  having  provided  some  better  thing  for  us, 
that  they  without  us  should  not  be  made  perfect.”^  At 
seven  o’clock  on  Sunday  morning,  August  i,  Fletcher 
preached  again,  taking  as  his  text  i Kings  xiii.  26,  selected 
from  the  first  lesson  for  the  day  : “ It  is  the  man  of  God, 
who  was  disobedient  unto  the  word  of  the  Lord  : therefore 
the  Lord  hath  delivered  him  unto  the  lion,  which  hath  torn 
him,  and  slain  him,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
which  he  spake  unto  him.”  Joseph  Benson,  who  was  present, 
writes  : — 

Mr.  Fletcher  drew  such  a picture  of  the  degradation  and  misery  of 
a backsliding  minister,  and  of  the  corruption  and  injury  he  introduced 
into  the  Church  of  Christ,  as  produced  a general  and  deep  sensation, 
not  easily  to  be  forgotten.” 

And  Henry  Moore,  another  of  Fletcher’s  auditors,  re- 
marks : — 

“ I was  extremely  impressed  with  the  whole  service:  the  shadow  of 
the  Divine  presence  was  seen  among  us,  and  His  going  forth  was  in 
our  sanctuary.” 

Next  morning,  Mr.  Moore  himself  had  to  preach.  He 
writes  : — 

“ I went  to  the  chapel  at  the  hour  appointed,  and,  to  my  dismay,  found 
th»  venerable  Mr.  Fletcher  in  the  pulpit,  leaning  upon  his  staif.  My 
first  impression  was  to  run  away;  but  a moment’s  reflection  changed 


^ Respecting  this  sermon,  John  Beaumont,  father  of  the  celebrated 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Beaumont,  wrote  : ‘‘Mr.  Fletcher  dwelt  much  on  the 
conte;xt,  which  speaks  of  the  faith  and  works  of  the  ancient  worthies, 
and  strongly  enforced  what  he  termed  a working faith.  I was  blessed 
beyond  description,  and  thought  him  certainly  the  most  angelic  man 
I had  ever  heard.”  (“  The  Experience  and  Travels  of  John  Beaumont.”) 


544 


Wesley’s  Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


my  purpose.  I ascended  the  pulpit  and  gave  out  the  hymn ; while  I 
did  so,  my  knees  smote  one  against  the  other : I knelt  down  to  pray, 
and  indeed  lifted  my  heart  with  my  voice,  that  I might  be  endued  with 
power  and  wisdom  from  on  high : my  soul  was  calmed,  and  I took  my 
text,  and  continued  the  service,  fully  set  free  from  fear,  and  strengthened 
in  my  resolution  ever  to  obey  the  voice  of  duty.”  ^ 

At  five  o’clock  on  the  following  morning,  Wesley,  eighty- 
one  years  of  age,  again  preached,  selecting  a text  admirably 
adapted  to  be  a sequel  to  that  chosen  by  Fletcher  on  the 
previous  Sunday  ; and  also  peculiarly  suited  to  what  had  taken 
place  in  the  Conference  : ‘‘And  Jeremiah  said  unto  the  house 
of  the  Rechabites,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel : Because  ye  have  obeyed  the  commandment  of 
Jonadab  your  father,  and  kept  all  his  precepts,  and  done 
according  unto  all  that  he  hath  commanded  you  ; therefore, 
thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel  ; Jonadab 
the  son  of  Rechab  shall  not  want  a man  to  stand  before  me 
for  ever”  (Jer.  xxxv.  18,  19).  The  Conference  was  con- 
cluded on  Tuesday,  August  3 ; and  next  morning,  at  five 
o’clock,  Wesley  delivered  another  sermon,  and  immediately 
afterwards  took  the  coach  for  Wales.  His  last  text,  at  this 
remarkable  Conference,  was,  “Take  heed  unto  thyself,  and 
unto  the  doctrine  ; continue  in  them  : for  in  doing  this  thou 
shalt  both  save  thyself,  and  them  that  hear  thee.”^ 

A purpose  is  intended  to  be  served  by  these  minute 
statements,  namely,  to  convey  an  idea  of  what  Methodist 
Conferences  were  in  the  olden  times,  and  to  indicate  the 
chief  preachers,  and  the  kind  of  texts  they  took. 

It  is  a well-known  fact  that  the  great  event  of  the  Con- 
ference of  1784  was  the  rebellion  raised  in  Wesley’s  camp 
of  preachers.  In  his  “ Deed  of  Declaration,”  he  had  ap- 
pointed his  brother  Charles,  Dr.  Coke,  James  Creighton,  and 
ninety-seven  of  his  itinerants  to  be,  after  his  decease,  his 
legalized  successors,  and  to  exercise  the  powers  he  had  exer- 
cised from  the  beginning.  By  confining  the  number  of  the 
members  of  the  legal  Conference  to  a hundred,  he  necessarily 
excluded  not  fewer  than  ninety-two,  whom  he  had  employed 


' ‘^Life  of  Henry  Moore,”  by  Mrs.  Smith,  p.  321. 
^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine ^ 1845,  p.  14. 


Age  54-]  Fletcher  at  Wesley's  Conference  in  1784.  545 


in  circuit  work  ; and,  among  these,  there  were  several  who 
had  claims  quite  equal  to  many  of  the  elected  ones,  as,  to 
wit,  Thomas  Lee,  John  Atlay,  John  Pritchard,  John  Pool, 
John  Hampson,  sen.,  John  Hampson,  jun.,  William  Eells, 
and  Joseph  Pillmoor.  Previous  to  the  Conference  being 
held,  certain  of  the  non-elected  preachers  published  a protest 
against  Wesley’s  partiality.  The  crisis  was  a serious  one. 
Fletcher  was  not  included  in  the  hundred,  probably  because 
he  desired  to  be  left  out ; but  he  was  intensely  anxious 
respecting  apprehended  results,  Mrs.  Fletcher  wrote  : — 

‘‘  O how  deeply  was  he  alfected  for  the  welfare  of  his  brethren,  when 
we  were  at  Leeds,  in  the  year  1784!  When  disputes  arose  among  them, 
his  soul  groaned  beneath  the  burden.  By  two  or  three  o’clock  in  the 
morning,  I was  sure  to  hear  him  breathing  out  prayers  for  the  peace 
and  prosperity  of  Sion  ; and  when  I said  to  him,  I was  afraid  this  would 
hurt  his  health,  and  that  I wished  him  to  sleep  more,  he  would  answer? 
‘ O Polly,  the  cause  of  God  lies  near  my  heart.’  ” 

At  the  opening  of  the  Conference,  on  July  27,  Wesley 
mentioned  the  Deed  of  Declaration,”  and  the  “Appeal” 
which  had  been  published  against  it  : — 

He  showed  that,  from  the  commencement  of  Methodism,  the  annual 
Conferences  had  always  consisted  of  persons  whom  he  had  desired  to 
meet  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with  him.  He  insisted,  th^t  he  had 
a right  to  name  the  members  of  the  Legal  Conference,  and  to  fix  their 
number.  The  'Appeal,”’  he  said,  ‘Represented  him  as  unjust,  oppres- 
sive, and  tyrannical,  which  he  was  not ; the  authors  of  it  had  betrayed 
him ; and,  by  doing  so,  had  hurt  the  minds  of  many,  and  kindled  a 
flame  throughout  the  kingdom.  Hence,  he  required  that  they  should 
acknowledge  their  fault,  and  be  sorry  for  it,  or  he  could  have  no  further 
connection  with  them.”^ 

For  seven  days,  the  dispute  remained  unsettled.  Fletcher 
acted  as  mediator. 

“Never,”  says  Charles  Atmore,  “shall  I forget  the  ardour  and  earnest- 
ness with  which  Mr.  Fletcher  expostulated,  even  on  his  knees,  both  with 
Mr.  Wesley  and  the  preachers.  To  the  former,  he  said,  ‘ My  father  ! 
my  father ! they  have  olfended,  but  they  are  your  children  ! ’ To  the 
atter,  he  exclaimed,  ‘ My  brethren  ! my  brethren  ! he  is  your  father  ! ’ 


* Benson’s  “ Life,”  by  Macdonald,  p.  160. 


35 


546 


Wesky^  s Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


and  then,  portraying  the  work  in  which  they  were  unitedly  engaged,  he 
fell  again  on  his  knees,  and  with  fervour  and  devotion  engaged  in 
prayer.  The  Conference  was  bathed  in  tears  ; many  sobbed  aloud.”  * 

This  appears  to  have  been  on  the  last  day  but  one  that 
the  Conference  sat.  Hence  Joseph  Benson  writes: — 

August  2.  Our  brethren,  who  had  been  concerned  in  the  ^ Appeal,’ 
rejoiced  our  hearts,  by  acknowledging  their  fault,  and  making  submis- 
sion. In  consequence  of  their  doing  so,  they  were  admitted  among  their 
brethren,  and  appointed  to  Circuits.”^ 

It  may  be  added,  that,  the  principal  appellants — John 
Hampson,  sen.,  and  John  Hampson,  jun.,  Joseph  Pillmoor, 
John  Atlay,  and  William  Eels — soon  afterwards  left  the 
Connexion. 

Two  other  incidents,  concerning  the  Conference,  must  be 
mentioned. 

It  is  a well-known  fact,  that,  one  of  the  most  important 
questions  asked  at  Wesley  s Conferences  was,  Are  there 
any  objections  to  any  of  our  preachers  V Upon  the  question 
being  put,  the  names  of  all  (Wesley’s  name  included),  were 
read  seriatim.  When  this  part  of  the  business  of  the  Con- 
ference, in  1784,  was  reached,  Fletcher  rose  from  his  seat, 
to  withdraw  from  the  chapel. 

He  was  eagerly  recalled,  and  asked  why  he  would  leave  them  ? 

‘ Because,’  said  he,  ‘ it  is  improper,  and  painful  to  my  feelings,  for  me 
to  hear  the  minute  failings  of  my  brethren  canvassed,  unless  my  own 
character  be  submitted  to  the  same  scrutiny.’  They  promised,  if  he 
would  stay,  that  his  character  should  be  investigated.  On  these  terms, 
he  consented  to  remain ; and,  when  his  name  was  read,  an  aged  preacher 
rose,  bowed  to  him,  and  said,  ‘ I have  but  one  thing  to  object  to  Mr. 
Fletcher;  God  has  given  him  a richer  talent  than  his  humility  will  suffer 
him  duly  to  appreciate.  In  confining  himself  to  Madeley,  he  puts  his 
light,  comparatively,  under  a bushel ; whereas,  if  he  would  come  out 
more  among  us,  he  would  draw  immense  congregations,  and  would  do 
much  more  good.’  In  answer  to  this,  Mr.  Fletcher  stated  the  tender 
and  sacred  ties  which  bound  him  to  his  parish ; its  numerous  popu- 
lation ; the  daily  calls  for  his  services  ; the  difficulty  of  finding  a proper 
substitute  ; his  increasing  infirmities,  which  disqualified  him  for  horse 
exercise ; his  unwillingness  to  leave  Mrs.  Fletcher  at  home ; and  the 
expense  of  travelling  in  carriages.  In  reply  to  his  last  argument,  another 


^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine,  1845,  p.  15. 
^ Benson’s  Life,”  by  Macdonald,  p.  160. 


Age  54-]  Fletcher  at  Wesley^ s Confere72ce  in  1784.  547 


preacher  arose,  and  observed  that  the  expense  of  his  journeys  would  be 
cheerfully  paid ; and  that,  though  he  knew  and  highly  approved  Mr. 
Fletcher’s  disinterestedness  and  delicacy  in  pecuniary  transactions,  yet 
he  feared  there  was  a mixture  of  pride  in  his  objection ; for  that  by  no 
importunity  could  he  be  prevailed  on  to  accept  a present  to  defray  his 
expenses  on  his  late  visit  to  Ireland.  little  explanation,’  replied 
Mr.  Fletcher,  ‘ will  set  that  matter  right.  When  I was  invited  to  visit 
my  friends  at  Dublin,  I had  every  desire  to  accept  their  invitation  ; but 
I wanted  money  for  the  journey,  and  knew  not  how  to  obtain  it.  In  this 
situation,  I laid  the  matter  before  the  Lord,  humbly  requesting  that,  if 
the  journey  were  a providential  opening  to  do  good,  I might  have  the 
means  of  performing  it.  Shortly  afterwards,  I received  an  unexpected 
sum  of  money,  and  took  my  journey.  While  in  Dublin,  I heard  our 
friends  commiserating  the  distresses  of  the  poor,  and  lamenting  the 
inadequate  means  they  had  to  relieve  them.  When,  therefore,  they 
offered  me  a handsome  present,  what  could  I do  ? The  necessary 
expenses  of  my  journey  had  already  been  supplied  ; my  general  income 
was  quite  sufficient ; I needed  nothing.  Had  I received  the  money,  I 
should  have  given  it  away.  The  poor  of  Dublin  most  needed,  and  were 
most  worthy  of,  the  money  of  their  generous  countrymen.  How  then 
could  I hesitate  to  beg  that  it  might  be  applied  to  their  relief?  You 
see,  brethren,  I could  not  in  conscience  do  otherwise  than  I did.’ 

After  these  explanations,  the  honest  old  Methodist  preachers, 
of  course,  recorded  no  objection  to  the  ‘‘  character''  of  John 
Fletcher  ; but  Wesley,  nearly  a year  afterwards,  wrote  to  his 
brother  Charles  : — 

“ 1785,  June  2.  About  once  a quarter,  I hear  from  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fletcher.  I grudge  his  sitting  still ; but  who  can  help  it  ? I love  ease 
as  well  as  he  does  ; but  I dare  not  take  it  while  I believe  there  is  another 
world.  ”2 

Fletchers  examination,  on  this  occasion,  took  place  by 
special  arrangement : if  he  had  lived,  perhaps,  it  would  after- 
wards have  been  a matter  of  course  ; for,  about  the  middle 
of  the  Conference,  he  rose,  and,  addressing  Wesley,  said  ; — 

I fear  my  successor  will  not  be  interested  in  the  work  of  God,  and 
my  flock  may  suffer.  I have  done  what  I could.  I have  built  a chapel 
in  Madeley  Wood,  and  I hope.  Sir,  you  will  continue  to  supply  it,  and 
that  Madeley  may  still  be  part  of  a Methodist  Circuit.  If  you  please,  I 
should  be  glad  to  be  put  down  in  the  ^ Minutes  ’ as  a supernumerary.” 


Benson’s  ‘‘Life  of  Fletcher.” 
Wesley’s  Works,  vol.  xii.,  p.  142. 


548 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1784. 


Wesley  was  not  easily  moved,  but  even  he  could  hardly 
bear  this,  and  the  preachers  burst  into  tears.^ 

The  other  incident,  to  be  mentioned,  was  of  a different 
kind,  and  is  a good  illustration  of  the  remarkable  allegorical 
talent  which  Fletcher  possessed,  and  often  exercised,  not  only 
in  his  published  works,  but  in  his  correspondence,  and  in 
conversation  among  his  friends. 

On  March  31,  1784,  Wesley  visited  Burslem,  where  Mr. 
Enoch  Wood  resided,  a Methodist,  and  an  artist  of  great 
ability.  Mr.  Wood  prevailed  on  Wesley  to  permit  him  to 
model  a bust  from  his  person  ; and  a considerable  number 
of  copies  were  executed.  The  likeness  was  so  striking,  that, 
when  Wesley  looked  at  the  bust,  he  said  to  Mr.  Wood,  ‘‘  If 
you  touch  it  again,  you  will  mar  it.”  Every  wrinkle,  dimple, 
and  vein  of  the  face  and  forehead  were  marked  with  perfect 
accuracy.  Four  months  afterwards,  Mr.  Wood  went  to  the 
Conference  at  Leeds,  and  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
popular  men  there.  Samuel  Bardsley  hoisted  the  artist  on 
his  shoulder  ; at  the  moment,  Fletcher  was  passing  through 
the  grave-yard,  and  was  told,  by  the  applauding  preachers, 
the  name  of  the  hero,  so  ludicrously  exhibited.  Fletcher 
paused  a moment,  and  then  said,  ‘‘  Are  you  the  young  man 
who  made  that  beautiful  likeness  of  Mr.  Wesley  ?”  Being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  having  been  made  acquainted 
with  the  whole  process  of  making  the  bust,  he  stood  on  a 
grave,  and,  putting  his  hand  on  the  artist’s  shoulder,  he  began 
to  spiritualize  what  he  had  heard,  by  using  it  to  illustrate 
the  work  of  God,  in  the  new  creation  of  the  human  soul,  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  spoke  of  the  rough  and 
unpromising  materials, — the  corrupt  nature  derived  from 
fallen  Adam  ; he  showed  how  this,  by  the  energy  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  is  softened  and  melted  down  into  godly  sorrow ; how 
it  becomes  plastic  in  the  hands  of  the  Divine  Artist  ; how  it 
is  cast  into  a new  mould  : and  how  it  is  formed  after  the 
likeness  of  Christ.  His  extemporaneous  address  lasted  twenty 
minutes,  and  was  never  forgotten  by  those  who  heard  it.^ 

It  may  be  added  that,  some  years  afterwards.  Dr.  Adam 


^ Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life,”  by  H.  Moore,  p.  183. 
2 Christian  Miscellany,  1848,  p.  230. 


Age  55.] 


Fletcher  in  his  Sentry- Box F 


549 


Clarke  obtained  from  Mr.  Wood  the  loan  of  the  original 
mould,  and  had  a bust  cast  in  solid  brass,  which  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  Mr.  G.  J.  Stevenson.  This  was  lent  to  the 
sculptor  who  chiselled  the  marble  effigy  of  Wesley,  now 
placed  in  the  entrance-hall  of  the  Wesleyan  Theological 
Institutk)n,  Richmond.  The  face  and  head  of  the  effigy 
were  obtained  from  it.^ 

On  his  return  to  Madeley,  Fletcher  wrote  to  his  friend, 
Mr.  Ireland,  as  follows  : — 

“Madeley,  September  13,  1784. 

“ My  Dear  Friend, — I keep  in  my  sentry-box  till  Providence 
removes  me.  My  situation  is  quite  suited  to  my  little  strength.  I may 
do  as  much  or  as  little  as  I please,  according  to  my  weakness  ; and  I 
have  an  advantage,  which  I can  have  nowhere  else  in  such  a degree, — 
my  little  field  of  action  is  just  at  my  own  door,  so  that  if  I happen  to 
overdo  myself,  I have  but  to  step  from  my  pulpit  to  my  bed,  and  from 
my  bed  to  my  grave.  If  I had  a body  full  of  vigour,  and  a purse  full  of 
money,  I should  like  well  enough  to  travel  about  as  Mr.  Wesley  does  ; 
but  as  Providence  does  not  call  me  to  it,  I readily  submit.  The  snail 
does  best  in  its  shell ; were  it  to  aim  at  galloping,  like  the  racehorse, 
it  would  be  ridiculous  indeed.  My  wife  is  quite  of  my  mind  with  respect 
to  the  call  we  have  to  a sedentary  life.  We  are  two  poor  invalids,  who 
between  us  make  half  labourer. 

“We  shall  have  tea  cheap  and  light  very  dear;  ^ I don’t  admire  the 
change.  Twenty  thousand  chambers  walled  up,  and  filled  with  foul  air, 
are  converted  into  so  many  dungeons  for  the  industrious  artizan,  who, 
being  compelled  by  this  murderous  tax,  denies  himself  the  benefit  of 
light  and  air.  Blessed  be  God  ! the  light  of  heaven  and  the  air  of  the 
spiritual  world  are  still  free. 

“ My  dear  partner  sweetly  helps  me  to  drink  the  dregs  of  life,  and  to 
carry  with  ease  the  daily  cross.  We  are  not  long  for  this  world — we 
see  it,  we  feel  it ; and,  by  looking  at  death  and  his  conqueror,  we  fight 
beforehand  our  last  battle  with  that  last  enemy  whom  our  dear  Lord 
has  overcome  for  us.  That  we  may  triumph  over  him  with  an  humble, 
Christian  courage  is  the  prayer  of,  my  dear  friend,  yours, 

“ John  Fletcher.”  ^ 

Fletchers  apprehension  of  the  nearness  of  death,  so  far  as 
he  was  concerned,  was  realized ; but  his  wife  did  not  die  until 


‘ Stevenson’s  “ Memorials  of  the  Wesley  Family,”  p.  349. 

2 On  June  21,  Pitt  moved  several  resolutions  to  put  an  end  to  smug- 
gling by  reducing  the  duty  upon  tea  from  50  to  124  per  cent.  ; and  to 
increase  the  window  tax  in  proportion.  These  resolutions  were  passed, 
though  not  without  much  debate. 

^ Letters,  1791,  p.  302. 


550 


Wesley*  s Designated  Successor, 


[1784- 


thirty-one  years  after  this,  not  a year  of  which  passed  with- 
out her  keeping  the  anniversary  of  their  wedding-day.  In 
the  present  year  she  wrote  : — 

1784,  November  12.  We  have  been  married  three  years  this  day. 
A good  day  it  has  been  to  me  ! While  reflecting  on  the  v^onderful 
goodness  of  God  in  my  providential  union  with  my  dear  husband  (so 
far,  so  very  far,  beyond  my  warmest  wishes),  my  heart  was  enlarged 
with  desire  to  render  to  my  God  a suitable  return  for  all  His  mercies  ! ^ 

On  her  birthday,  two  months  previously,  she  had  written 
in  her  journal  : — - 

‘^September  12.  This  day  I am  forty-flve  years  old.  I have  had 
such  a sense  of  the  goodness  of  God  toward  me  as  I cannot  express.  I 
am  filled  with  favours.  I have  the  best  of  husbands,  who  daily  grows 
more  and  more  spiritual,  and  I think  more  healthful,  being  far  better 
than  when  we  first  married.  My  call  also  is  so  clear,  and  I have  such 
liberty  in  the  work,  and  such  sweet  encouragement  among  the  people. 
My  servant,  too,  is  much  improved,  and  as  faithful  as  if  she  were  my  own 
child.  An  income  quite  comfortable,  and  a good  deal  to  help  the  poor 
with  ! O what  shall  I render  to  the  Lord  for  all  the  mercies  He  hath 
shown  unto  me  ! ” 

In  this  happy  home,  Fletcher  wrote  the  following  happy 
letter  to  a youth,  his  godson,  by  name  John  Fennel  : — 

''  Madeley,  November  28,  1784. 

Dear  John, — I rejoice  to  hear  that  you  think  of  a better  world; 
and  of  that  better  part  which  Mary,  and  your  mother — another  Mary — 
chose  before  you.  May  all  her  prayers,  and,  above  all,  may  the  dew  of 
heaven,  come  down  upon  your  soul  in  solemn  thoughts,  heavenly  desires, 
and  strong  resolutions  to  be  the  Lord’s,  cost  what  it  will.  Let  the 
language  of  your  heart  and  lips  be,  ‘ I will  be  a follower  of  Christ,  a 
child  of  God,  an  inheritor  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.’  A noble  promise 
this  ! of  which  I have  so  peculiar  a right  to  put  you  in  mind.  In  order 
to  be  this  happy  and  holy  soul,  you  must  not  forget  that  your  Christian 
name,  your  Christian  vow,  and  ten  thousand  reasons  beside,  bind  you 
to  turn  your  back  upon  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil ; and  to  set 
yourself  to  look  steadfastly  to  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  your 
Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier. 

Dear  John,  you  have  no  time  to  lose.  We  have  calls  here  to  the 
young  without  end.  I lately  buried,  in  our  churchyard,  two  brothers 
and  sisters  in  the  same  grave.  Be  you  also  ready  ! I was  praying  for 
you  some  nights  ago  on  my  bed,  in  my  sleepless  hours  ; and  I asked 
for  you  the  faith  of  righteous  Abel,  the  chastity  of  Joseph,  the  early 


Mrs.  Fletcher’s  Life,”  by  H.  Moore,  p.  158. 


Age  55.]  Rev.  Charles  Simeon  visits  Fletcher. 


551 


piety  of  Samuel,  the  right  choice  of  young  Solomon,  the  self-denial  and 
abstinence  of  Daniel,  together  with  the  early  zeal  and  undaunted  courage 
of  his  three  friends  ; but,  above  all,  I asked  that  you  might  follow  John 
the  Baptist  and  John  the  Apostle  as  they  followed  our  Lord.  Back, 
earnestly  back  my  prayers.  So  shall  you  be  faithful,  diligent,  godly  ; 
a blessing  to  all  around  you,  and  a comfort  to  your  affectionate  old 
friend  and  minister, 

''John  Fletcher.”^ 

At  this  period,  the  Rev.  Charles  Simeon,  a young  man  of 
twenty-five,  and  full  of  faith  and  zeal,  was  rising  into  great 
popularity  among  the  Methodist  clergymen  of  the  day.  He 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  Berridge  and  of  Henry  Venn; 
and  had  recently  visited  Riland  at  Birmingham,  Cadogan 
at  Reading,  Pentycross  at  Wallingford,  and  Robinson  at 
Leicester;^  and  now,  toward  the  end  of  1784,  he  came  to 
Fletcher  at  Madeley.  As  soon  as  he  entered  the  vicarage, 
Fletcher  took  him  by  the  hand  and  brought  him  into  the 
parlour,  where  the  two  engaged  in  prayer.  That  being 
ended,  Fletcher  asked  Simeon  to  preach  in  the  church. 
After  some  hesitation,  Simeon  consented  ; and  away  went 
Fletcher,  bell  in  hand,  through  the  village,  and,  ringing  as 
loudly  as  he  could,  told  the  people  they  must  attend  church, 
for  a young  clergyman  from  Cambridge  had  come  to  preach 
to  them. 

After  the  service  in  the  church,  Fletcher  and  his  visitor 
went  for  a walk,  in  the  course  of  which  they  entered  the 
ironworks.  Simeon  was  surprised  at  the  aptitude  of  Fletcher 
to  turn  everything  he  saw  to  spiritual  profit.  To  one  of  the 
ironworkers,  hammering  on  an  anvil,  he  remarked,  “ O,  pray 
to  God  that  He  may  hammer  that  hard  heart  of  yours.”  To 
another,  who  was  heating  a bar  of  iron,  ‘‘Ah  ! thus  it  is  that 
God  tries  His  children  in  the  furnace  of  affliction.”  And  to 
a third,  who  was  drawing  a furnace,  “ See,  Thomas  ! if  yoiL 
can  make  such  a furnace  as  that,  think  what  a furnace  God 
can  make  for  sinners.”  ^ 

Soon  after  this,  Wesley  wrote  : — 

" 1784,  Monday,  December  20.  I went  to  Hinxworth,  where  I had 


* The  Youth' s Instructor,  1835,  p.  305. 

^ " Simeon’s  Memoirs,”  by  W.  Cams,  M.A. 
^ Christian  Miscellany ^ 1848,  p.  326. 


552 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


the  satisfaction  of  meeting  Mr.  Simeon,  Fellow  of  King’s  College  in 
Cambridge.  He  has  spent  some  time  with  Mr.  Fletcher,  at  Madeley: 
two  kindred  souls ; much  resembling  each  other  both  in  fervour  of 
spirit  and  in  the  earnestness  of  their  address.  He  gave  me  the  pleasing 
information  that  there  are  three  parishes  in  Cambridge  wherein  true 
Scriptural  religion  is  preached,  and  several  young  gentlemen  who  are 
happy  partakers  of  it.”  ^ 

Fletcher,  the  Madeley  revivalist,  was  closing  his  last  year 
on  earth  ; Simeon,  the  Cambridge  one,  lived  and  laboured 
for  more  than  half  a century  afterwards  ; and  who  can  say 
that  in  Simeon  s life  and  labours  the  influence  of  Fletcher’s 
spirit  and  example  was  not  an  element } 

A few  more  extracts  from  Fletcher’s  letters,  and  then  the 
end  will  come.  Already  he  seemed  to  be  waiting  to  gather 
up  his  feet,”  and  die.  In  a letter  to  Mrs.  Thornton,  a friend 
of  the  Greenwood  family,  at  Stoke  Newington,  he  wrote  : — 

‘‘Madeley,  January  21,  1785.  I make  just  shift  to  fill  up  my  little 
sentry  box,  by  the  help  of  my  dear  partner.  Had  we  more  strength, 
we  should  have  opportunity  enough  to  exert  it.  O that  we  were  but 
truly  faithful  in  our  little  place ! Your  great  stage  of  London  is  too 
high  for  people  of  little  ability  and  little  strength ; and,  therefore,  we 
are  afraid  of  venturing  upon  it.  We  should  be  glad  to  rise  high  in 
usefulness ; but  God,  who  needs  us  not,  calls  us  to  sink  in  deep  resig- 
nation and  humility.  His  will  be  done  ! 

Three  weeks  later,  he  wrote  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lady 
Mary  Fitzgerald,  as  follows  : — 

“ Madeley,  February  ii,  1785.  Who  are  we,  my  lady,  that  we  should 
not  be  swallowed  up  by  the  holy,  loving,  living  Spirit,  who  fills  heaven 
and  earth  ? Whether  we  consider  it  or  not,  there  He  is,  a true,  holy, 
loving,  merciful  God.  Assent  to  it,  my  lady,  believe  it ; rejoice  in  it. 
Let  Him  be  God,  all  in  all ; your  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  What  an 
ocean  of  love  to  swim  in — to  dive  into  ! ”^ 

From  Fletcher’s  letter  to  Wesley  in  1755,  and  his  “ Soci- 
nianism  Unscriptural,”  written  during  the  last  years  of  his 
life,  it  is  undeniably  evident  that  Fletcher  was  a Millenarian. 
The  following  letter,  to  Mr.  Henry  Brooke,  of  Dublin,  refers 


Wesley’s  Journal. 
Letters,  1791,  p.  303. 
Ibidy  p.  304. 


Age  55.] 


Modified  Millenarianism. 


553 


to  the  same  subject,  but  shows  that  he  was  not  so  confident 
with  respect  to  some  of  his  views  as  he  had  been  heretofore  — 

‘‘Madeley,  February  28,  1785.1 

''My  Dear  Brother, — We  are  all  shadows.  Your  mortal  parent 
has  passed  away  ; and  we  must  pass  away  after  him.  A lesson  I learn 
daily,  is  to  see  things  and  persons  in  their  invisible  root,  and  in  their 
eternal  principle ; where  they  are  not  subject  to  change,  decay,  and 
death ; but  where  they  blossom  and  shine  in  the  primaeval  excellence 
allotted  them  by  their  gracious  Creator.  By  this  means,  I learn  to 
walk  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight.  Tracing  His  image,  in  all  the  foot- 
steps of  nature,  and  finding  out  that  which  is  of  God  in  ourselves,  is  the 
true  wisdom,  genuine  godliness.  I hope  you  will  never  be  afraid,  nor 
ashamed  of  it.  I see  no  danger  in  these  studies  and  meditations,  pro- 
vided we  still  keep  the  end  in  view — the  all  of  God,  and  the  shadowy 
nothingness  of  all  that  is  visible. 

"With  respect  to  the  great  Pentecostal  display  of  the  Spirit’s  glory, 
I still  look  for  it  within  and  without ; and  to  look  for  it  aright  is  the 
lesson  I am  learning.  I am  now  led  to  be  afraid  of  that  in  my  nature, 
which  would  be  for  pomp,  show,  and  visible  glory.  I am  afraid  of 
falling,  by  such  an  expectation,  into  what  I call  a spiritual  Judaizing ; 
into  a looking  for  Christ’s  coming  in  my  own  pompous  conceit,  which 
might  make  me  reject  Him,  if  His  wisdom,  to  crucify  mine,  chose  to 
come  in  a meaner  way  : if,  instead  of  coming  in  His  Father’s  glory.  He 
chose  to  come  meek,  riding,  not  on  the  cherubim,  but  on  the  foal  of  an 
ass.  Our  Saviour  said,  with  respect  to  His  going  to  the  feast,  ' My  time 
is  not  yet  come  : ’ whether  His  time  to  come  and  turn  the  thieves  and 
buyers  out  of  the  outward  church  is  yet  come,  I know  not.  I doubt 
Jerusalem,  and  the  holy  place,  are  yet  given  to  be  trodden  under  foot 
by  the  Gentiles.  But  7ny  Jerusalem  ! why  it  is  not  swallowed  up  of 
that  which  comes  down  from  heaven,  is  a question  which  I wait  to  be 
solved  by  the  teaching  of  the  great  Prophet,  who  is  alone  possessed  of 
Urim  and  Thummim.  The  mighty  power  to  wrestle  with  Him  is  all 
divine  : and  I often  pray, — 

" ' That  mighty  faith  on  me  bestow, 

Which  cannot  ask  in  vain. 

Which  holds  and  will  not  let  Thee  go. 

Till  I my  suit  obtain : 

" ' Till  Thou  into  my  soul  inspire 
That  perfect  love  unknown. 

And  tell  my  infinite  desire, 

Whate’er  Thou  wilt  be  done.’ 


^ In  an  unpublished  letter,  dated,  "Sunday  Evening,  February  2y, 
1785,”  and  signed  "John  and  Mary  Fletcher,”  but  evidently  written  by 
the  latter,  it  is  said  : — " My  dear  Mr.  Fletcher  has  had  a bad  cold ; but 
is  better.  He  is  all  alive,  and  living  for  eternity.” 


554 


Wesky  s Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


In  short,  the  Lord  crucifies  my  wisdom  and  my  will  everyway; 
but  I must  be  crucified  as  the  thieves.  A ll  my  bones  must  be  broken  ; 
for  there  is  still  in  me  that  impatience  of  wisdom,  which  would  stir, 
when  the  tempter  says,  ‘ Come  down  from  the  cross.’  It  is  not  for  us 
to  know  the  times  and  seasons,  the  manner  and  mystical  means  of  God’s 
working ; but  only  to  hunger  and  thirst,  and  lie  passive  before  the  great 
Potter.  I begin  to  be  content  to  be  a vessel  of  clay  or  of  wood,  so  that 
I may  be  emptied  of  self,  and  filled  with  my  God,  my  all. 

‘^I  am  exceeding  glad  that  your  dear  partner  goes  on  simply  and 
believingly.  Such  a companion  is  a great  blessing  ; for  when  two  shall 
agree  touching  one  thing  in  prayer,  it  shall  be  done.  My  wife  and  I 
endeavour  to  fathom  the  meaning  of  that  deep  promise.  Join  us,  and 
let  us  search  after  that  which  exceeds  knowledge — I mean  the  wisdom, 
and  the  power,  the  love,  and  the  faithfulness  of  God. 

‘‘Adieu!  Be  God’s,  as  the  French  say,  and  see  God  is  yours  in 
Christ,  for  you,^  for  brothers  Dugdale,  Shannon,  Pickering,  Mrs.  Blash- 
ford,  etc. 

“We  are  your  obliged  friends, 

“John  and  Mary  Fletcher. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  there  is  a little  mysticism  in 
Fletcher’s  letter ; but  let  it  pass.  The  next  was  written  a 
month  later.  The  Rev.  Peard  Dickenson  was  now  in  the 
twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  had  been  ordained  a 
deacon,  on  June  16,  1783,  and,  a few  months  afterwards,  had 
been  ordained  a priest  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  He 
was  now  the  Curate  of  the  venerable  Vicar  of  Shoreham,  the 
Rev.  Vincent  Perronet,  and  wrote  to  Fletcher,  asking  his 
advice  respecting  pastoral  visitation.  Fletcher  replied,  as 
follows  : — 

“Madeley,  March  29,  1785. 

“ Dear  Sir, — I did  not  answer  your  obliging  letter,  because  I thought 
it  would  be  presumption  in  me  to  advise  you,  when  you  have  my  reverend 
father,  Mr.  Perronet,  to  advise  with.  To  send  a line,  in  those  circum- 
stances, appeared  to  me  like  ‘ sending  coals  to  Newcastle.’ 

“ However,  having  now  an  opportunity  to  forward  a letter  to  London, 
I shall  say  what  I have  thought  on  the  subject.  It  is  exceeding  well  to 
visit  from  house  to  house,  even  the  Infidels,  to  feel  their  pulse,  and  to 
see  whether  they  do  not  begin  to  entertain  more  favourable  thoughts  of 
‘the  pearl  of  great  price’  than  grunting  ‘swine’  or  snarling  ‘dogs’ 
generally  do.  Such  visits,  half  upon  the  footing  of  Christian  love,  and 
half  upon  the  footing  of  human  civility,  may  tend  to  remove  prejudices. 


These  names  are  in  the  original  letter. 
Letters,  1791,  p.  307. 


Age  55.] 


Letter  to  Melville  Horne. 


555 


In  some  cases,  writing  a letter  with  tenderness,  or  giving  a little  tract 
suited  to  the  circumstances  of  the  person,  may  clear  our  own  conscience, 
though  it  should  do  him  no  good. 

My  love,  respects,  and  duty,  to  your  venerable  Vicar,  who,  I am 
told,  is  now  your  grandfather.^  I hope  the  report  is  well  grounded; 
and,  if  it  is,  I wish  you  joy  on  entering  into  so  respectable  a family ; 
and  I wish  you  and  your  partner  all  the  help  and  comfort  I find  in  mine  ; 
who,  as  well  as  myself,  desires  to  be  kindly  remembered  to  all  the  dear 
family  at  Shoreham. 

“ I am,  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate  brother  and  servant  in  Christ, 

“John  Fletcher.” ^ 

The  Rev.  Melville  Horne  was  one  of  Fletcher’s  protegees. 
At  Wesley’s  Conference,  in  1784,  he  had  been  ‘‘admitted  on 
trial,”  as  a Methodist  Itinerant  Preacher,  and  appointed  to 
the  Liverpool  circuit.  It  is  well  known  that,  after  this,  he 
obtained  episcopal  ordination,  became  curate  at  Madeley, 
published  a collection  of  Fletcher’s  letters  in  1791,  went  as 
a missionary  to  Western  Africa,  and,  on  his  return  to 
England,  rose  to  considerable  distinction.  Fletcher  had  lent 
the  young  itinerant  certain  books,  and  now  wrote  to  him  the 
following  letter,  which  refers  to  a practice  which  must  have 
been  of  recent  adoption.  Romaine  made  it  a rule  to  read 
nothing  but  the  Bible ; wisely  or  unwisely,  Fletcher  had 
begun,  to  some  extent,  to  copy  his  example  : — 

“ Madeley,  May  10,  1785. 

“ Dear  Brother, — I am  sorry  you  should  have  been  uneasy  about 
the  books.  I received  them  safely,  after  they  had  lain  for  some  days 
at  Salop.  I seldom  look  into  any  book  but  my  Bible ; not  out  of  con- 
tempt, as  if  I thought  they  cannot  teach  me  what  I do  not  know ; but 
because,  ‘ Vita  brevis^  ars  longa^'  I may  never  look  into  them  again. 

“ Go  on  improving  yourself  by  reading,  but  above  all  by  meditation 
;pr ay er : and  allow  our  Lord  to  refine  you  in  the  fire  of  temptation. 
Where  you  see  a want,  at  home  or  abroad,  wathin  or  without,  look  upon 
that  want  as  a warning  to  avoid  the  cause  of  the  leanness  you  perceive, 
and  a call  to  secure  the  blessings  which  are  ready  to  take  their  flight ; 
for  sometimes  ^ the  true  riches^^  like  those  of  this  world,  make  them- 
selves wings  and  flee  away.  The  heavenly  dove  may  be  grieved,  and 
take  its  flight  to  humbler  and  more  peaceful  roofs.  I am  glad  you  do 
not  want  hard  or  violent  measures  : I hope  you  will  never  countenance 
them,  no,  not  against  what  you  dislike.  I believe  things  will  turn  out 


^ This  was  a premature  statement.  Mr.  Dickenson  did  not  marry  Miss 
Briggs,  Mr.  Perronet’s  grand-daughter,  until  three  years  later. 

^ Wesleyan  Methodist  Magazine , 1825,  p.  745. 


556 


TVesky’ s Designated  Successor, 


[1785. 


very  well  at  the  Conference,  and  I shall  be  a witness  of  it,  if  the  Lord 
gives  me  a commission  to  be  a spectator  of  the  order  and  quietness  of 
those  who  shall  be  there.  If  not,  I shall  help  you  by  prayer  to  draw 
the  blessing  of  love  upon  our  friends.^ 

In  being  moderate,  humble,  and  truly  desirous  to  be  a Christian, — 
that  is,  to  be  the  least,  the  last,  and  the  servant  of  all,  we  avoid  running 
ourselves  into  difficulties ; we  escape  many  temptations,  and  many 
mortifying  disappointments.  For  my  part,  as  I expect  nothing  from 
men,  they  cannot  disappoint  me ; and,  as  I expect  all  good  things  from 
God,  in  the  time,  way,  measure,  and  manner  it  pleaseth  Him  to  bestow, 
here  I cannot  be  disappointed ; because  He  does,  and  will  do,  all  things 
well. 

‘‘  I trust  you  labour  for  God  and  souls,  not  for  praise  and  self.  When 
the  latter  are  our  aim,  God,  in  mercy,  blesses  us  with  barrenness,  that 
we  may  give  up  Barabbas,  and  release  the  humble  Jesus,  whom  we 
crucify  afresh  by  setting  the  thief  on  the  throne,  and  the  Lord  of  glory 
as  our  footstool : for  so  do  those  who  preach  Christ  out  of  contention, 
or  that  they  may  have  the  praise  of  men. 

“ That  God  may  bless  you  and  your  labours  is  the  prayer  of  your  old 
brother, 

^'JOHN  Fletcher.” 2 

A capital  letter  for  a young  Methodist  preacher,  like 
Melville  Horne,  who,  six  years  afterwards,  published  it  for 
the  benefit  of  all  Methodist  probationers. 

At  this  time,  fever  was  raging  at  Madeley.  Mr.  W.  Bosan- 
quet,  in  an  unpublished  letter,  addressed  to  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Fletcher,  and  dated  ‘‘ Bishopsgate  Street,  May  16,  1785,'' 
observed  : — 

am  very  happy  to  hear  that  both  you  and  Mr.  Fletcher  have  escaped 
the  fevers,  having  been  so  much  among  them.  The  poor  must  feel 
themselves  greatly  obliged  for  this  ; for  it  is  of  much  more  use  to  visit 
them  when  sick  than  even  to  give  them  money.” 

The  revered  Vicar  of  Shoreham,  the  Rev.  Vincent  Perronet, 
died  exactly  a week  before  the  date  of  this  letter,  and  was 
buried  on  May  14,  by  Charles  Wesley,  who  wrote  to  Mrs. 
Fletcher,  as  follows  : — 

‘‘  Marylebone,  May  24,  1785. 

My  Dear  Sister, — If  you  love  Mr.  Fletcher,  you  ought  to  love  the 
poor  Methodists  ; for  to  their  prayers  you  owe  him,  and  he  you.  I found 


^ Evidently,  Fletcher  hoped  to  attend  Wesley’s  Conference,  begun  in 
London  on  July  26,  1785,  but  his  hope  was  not  fulfilled. 

2 Letters,  1791,  p.  309. 


Age  55.] 


Fletcher  s Wife  III  of  Fever, 


557 


words,  and  the  people  faith,  while  we  heard,  at  Bristol”  (in  1776),  '‘that 
our  friend  was  just  departing^  ^You  have  been  the  instrument  of  adding 
some  years  to  his  valuable  life.  Remember,  for  the  short  time  that  I 
shall  want  your  prayers,  my  dear  friend,  your  old  faithful  servant, 

“ C.  Wesley.” 

And  then,  on  the  same  sheet,  the  poet  of  Methodism  wrote 
to  Fletcher  himself  the  following  : — 

" My  Very  Dear  Brother, — You  ought  to  have  paid  the  last  office, 
instead  of  me,  to  our  most  venerable  Archbishop  at  Shoreham.  On 
Sunday,  I deposited  the  sacred  ashes  in  his  partner’s  grave,  and  preached 
twice.  His  death  was  such  as  his  life  promised.  For  many  years,  he 
breathed  the  pure  spirit  of  love.  The  survivor  who  follows  him  nearest 
is  longo  ^roximus  intervallo. 

"A  fortnight  ago,  I preached  the  condemned  sermon  to  above  twenty 
criminals.  Every  one  of  them,  I have  good  grounds  to  believe,  died 
penitent.  Twenty  more  must  die  next  week. 

" Sally  presents  her  duty  and  love:  the  rest  join.  Direct  to  me  in 
Marylebone,  and  help  me  to  depart  in  peace.” ^ 

This,  probably,  was  the  last  letter  which  Fletcher  received 
from  his  old  and  loving  friend.  Within  three  years  after- 
wards, Charles  Wesley  did  depart  in  peace.'’  Fletcher’s 
last  letters,  written  eight  weeks  after  the  date  of  the  fore- 
going, were  addressed  to  James  Ireland,  Esq.,  and  to  Lady 
Mary  Fitzgerald.  It  has  been  already  stated  that  fever  was 
fatally  prevalent  at  Madeley  in  the  summer  of  1785,  and  an 
extract  from  a letter  written  by  William  Bosanquet,  Esq., 
expressing  his  happiness  that  Fletcher  and  his  wife  had 
escaped  the  pestilence,  has  been  already  given.  Soon  after 
that,  the  sister  of  Mr.  Bosanquet  caught  the  infection  ; and 
Fletcher  wrote  as  follows  to  Mr.  Ireland  : — 

"Madeley,  July  19,  1785. 

"My  Dear  Friend, — Blessed  be  God,  we  are  still  alive,  and,  in 
the  midst  of  many  infirmities,  we  enjoy  a degree  of  health,  spiritually 
and  bodily.  O how  good  was  the  Lord,  to  come  as  Son  of  man  to  live 
here  for  us,  and  to  come  in  His  Spirit  to  live  in  us  for  ever ! This  is  a 
mystery  of  godliness.  The  Lord  make  us  full  witnesses  of  it ! 

" A week  ago,  I was  tried  to  the  quick  by  a fever  with  wffiich  my  dear 
wife  was  afflicted.  Two  persons,  whom  she  had  visited,  having  been 
carried  off,  within  a pistol-shot  of  our  house,  I dreaded  her  being  the 


^ The  reference  is  to  the  hymn  quoted  at  page  362  of  the  present  work. 
^ " Memoir  of  Mrs.  Mortimer,”  p.  101. 


558 


Wesley"  s Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


third.  But  the  Lord  has  heard  prayer,  and  she  is  spared.  Oh,  what  is 
life ! ‘ On  what  a slender  thread  hang  everlasting  things ! ’ My  comfort, 
however,  is,  that  this  thread  is  as  strong  as  the  will  of  God,  and  the 
word  of  His  grace,  which  cannot  be  broken. 

''That  grace  and  peace,  love  and  thankful  joy,  may  ever  attend  you 
is  the  wish  of  your  most  obliged  friends, 

"John  and  Mary  Fletcher.”^ 

The  day  after  this,  he  wrote  the  following  to  the  Right 
Honorable  Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald  : — 

" Madeley,  July  20,  1785. 

" Hon.  and  Dear  Lady, — We  have  received  your  kind  letter,  and 
have  mournfully  acquiesced  in  the  will  of  our  heavenly  Father,  who,  by 
various  infirmities  and  providences,  weans  us  from  ourselves  and  our 
friends,  that  we  may  be  His  without  reserve.  It  was,  perhaps,  a peculiar 
mercy  that  Providence  blocked  up  your  way  to  this  place  this  summer. 
A bad  putrid  fever  carries  off  several  people  in  these  parts.  Two  of  our 
neighbours  died  of  it  last  week ; and  my  wife,  who  had  visited  them, 
was  taken  in  so  violent  a manner,  that  I was  obliged  to  offer  her  up  to 
God  in  good  earnest,  as  an  oblation  worthy  a son  of  Abraham.  I hope 
the  worst  is  over ; but  her  weakness  will  long  preach  to  me,  as  well  as 
my  own. 

" Dying  people,  we  live  in  the  midst  of  dying  people.  O let  us  live 
in  sight  of  a dying,  rising  Saviour;  and  the  prospect  of  death  will  become 
first  tolerable,  and  then  joyous  ! Or,  if  we  weep,  as  our  Lord,  at  the 
grave  of  our  friends,  or  at  the  side  of  their  deathbeds,  we  shall  triumph 
in  hope  that  all  will  be  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  our  souls. 

" I am,  my  dear  lady,  etc., 

'^JoHN  Fletcher.’' 2 

Twenty-five  days  after  writing  this,  his  last  letter,  Fletcher 
himself  was  dead.  His  wife,  who  had  so  narrowly  escaped 
becoming  a victim  to  the  prevailing  fever,  shall  tell  the 
remainder  of  his  earthly  story.  The  day  after  the  funeral, 
she  wrote  a letter  to  Wesley,  a copy  of  which  she  immediately 
gave  to  Fletcher’s  “ old  friend,  Winifred  Edmunds,  whose 
son,”  says  she,  ‘‘  prints  it  for  the  satisfaction  of  many  who 
have  made  applications  for  some  account  of  God’s  dealings 
with  my  beloved  husband.  I consider  this  a debt  I owe  to 
his  dear  orphans  at  Madeley  ; and,  as  it  is  probable  I may 
be  called  away  by  the  same  fever,  perhaps  this  may  be  the 


^ Letters,  1791,  p.  310. 

^ Fletcher’s  Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  329. 


Age  55  ] Jlfrs,  Fletcher^ s Accomit  of  her  Husbafid.  559 


last  office  of  love  I can  yield  them.”  The  title  of  the  pub- 
lication was,  “ A Letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wesley,  on  the 
Death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  in  Shrop- 
shire. Madeley  : Printed  by  J.  Edmunds.”  i6mo,  16  pp. 
About  the  same  time,  however,  Mrs.  Fletcher  wrote  a much 
longer  account,  which  was  printed  with  the  following  title  : 

“ A Letter  to  Mons.  H.  L.  de  la  Flechere,  Assessor  Ballival 
of  Nyon,  in  the  Canton  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  on  the  Death 
of  his  Brother,  the  Reverend  John  William  De  la  Flechere, 
Twenty-five  Years  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Shropshire.  London, 
1786.”  i2mo,  64  pp.  From  these  two  publications,  the 
following  account  is  taken.  Writing  to  Fletcher’s  brother, 
the  mourning  widow  said  : — 

As  there  is  no  one  to  whom  my  dearest  husband  was  more  closely 
united  than  yourself,  so  there  is  no  one  who  can  more  tenderly  sympa- 
thize with  me  in  a loss  so  mutuaL  You  have  expressed  a desire  to 
receive  from  my  own  pen  some  account  of  a life  the  most  angelic  I 
have  ever  known  ; and  I will  endeavour  to  comply  with  your  request 
as  far  as  my  weak  state  of  body  and  torn  nerves  will  permit. 

“From  the  beginning,  he  was  a laborious  workman  in  his  Lord’s 
vineyard,  till  he  had  spent  himself  in  the  best  of  services  and  was 
ripening  fast  for  glory.  Those  sinners  who  fled  from  him  he  pursued 
to  every  corner  of  his  parish  by  all  sorts  of  ways,  public  and  private, 
early  and  late,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  entreating  and  warning 
them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Some  made  it  an  excuse  for  not 
attending  the  service  on  Sunday  mornings  that  they  did  not  awake 
early  enough  to  get  their  families  ready.  He  promised  to  be  their 
watchman  ; and,  taking  a bell  in  his  hand,  was  accustomed,  at  five  in  the 
morning,  to  go  round  the  more  distant  parts  of  the  parish,  reminding 
the  inhabitants  of  their  invitation  to  the  house  of  God. 

“ But  he  did  not  confine  his  labours  to  this  parish.  For  many  years, 
he  regularly  preached  at  places  eight,  ten,  or  sixteen  miles  distant, 
returning  home  the  same  night,  though  he  seldom  reached  it  before  one 
or  two  in  the  morning.  At  a little  Society,  which  he  had  gathered 
about  six  miles  from  Madeley,  he  preached  two  or  three  times  in  a week 
at  five  in  the  morning.  As  to  visiting  the  sick,  this  was  a duty  for 
which  he  was  ever  ready.  If  he  heard  the  knocker  in  the  middle  of  the 
coldest  winter  night,  his  window  was  instantly  thrown  up,  and  the 
uniform  answer  was,  ^ I will  attend  you  immediately.^ 

“ His  frequent  journeys  to  Trevecca,  where  he  superintended  a college 
of  young  men  designed  for  the  ministry,  added  much  to  his  other 
fatigues, — riding  on  bad  roads  and  wading  through  waters.  Very  often, 
in  travelling  through  Wales,  he  was  obliged  to  lie  in  damp  and  unsuit- 
able lodgings  ; which,  I have  heard  him  observ^e,  gave  a deep  stroke  to 
his  constitution. 


56o 


Wesley' s Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


‘‘With  regard  to  the  success  of  his  labours,  it  is  a subject  on  which  he 
has  so  often  stopped  my  mouth  that  I will  only  say,  besides  the  great 
reformation  that  has  taken  place  in  this  parish,  as  to  outward  behaviour, 
he  has  left  behind  him  a goodly  company  of  upright,  earnest  people, 
whom  he  had  gathered  into  little  Societies,  and  who  now  mourn,  as 
sheep  bereaved  of  their  dear  shepherd. 

“ Never  did  I behold  any  one  more  dead  to  the  things  of  the  world. 
I have  heard  him  say  he  was  never  happier  than  when  he  had  given 
away  the  last  penny  he  had  in  the  house.  If  at  any  time  I had  gold  in 
the  drawer,  it  seemed  to  alford  him  no  comfort ; but  if  he  could  find  a 
handful  of  small  silver  when  going  out  to  visit  the  sick,  he  would  express 
as  much  pleasure  over  it  as  a miser  would  in  discovering  a bag  of 
hidden  treasure.  He  was  never  better  pleased  with  my  employment 
than  when  he  had  set  me  to  prepare  food  or  physic  for  the  poor.  He 
could  hardly  relish  his  dinner  if  some  sick  neighbour  had  not  a part ; 
nor  could  I sometimes  keep  the  linen  in  his  drawers  for  the  same  reason. 
On  Sabbath  days,  he  provided  refreshments  for  numbers  of  people  who 
came  from  a distance  to  hear  the  Word,  and  his  house  was  devoted  to 
their  convenience.  Once  a poor  widow,  who  feared  God,  being  brought 
into  difficulties,  he  immediately  took  all  his  pewter  from  the  kitchen 
shelves,  saying,  ‘ This  I can  do  without ; it  will  relieve  your  want,  and 
a wooden  trencher  serves  me  better.’  Sometimes,  in  epidemic  disorders, 
when  the  neighbours  were  afraid  to  nurse  the  sick,  he  has  gone  from 
house  to  house  seeking  help  for  them  ; and,  when  none  could  be  found, 
has  offered  to  sit  up  with  the  sick  himself.  In  his  younger  years,  he  was 
ready  to  weep  when  five  or  six  letters  were  brought,  at  threepence  or 
fourpence  a-piece,  and  he,  perhaps,  had  only  a shilling  in  the  house  to 
distribute  among  the  poor  to  whom  he  was  going.  Frequently  would 
he  say  to  me,  ' O Mary,  cannot  we  do  without  beer  ? Let  us  drink 
water,  and  buy  less  meat,  that  our  necessities  may  give  way  to  the 
extremities  of  the  poor.’  But  with  all  his  charity,  he  was  careful  to 
avoid  debts.  While  he  gave  all  he  could,  he  made  it  a rule  to  pay 
ready  money  for  everything,  believing  this  was  the  only  way  to  keep  the 
mind  free  from  cares. 

“ He  always  had  a steady,  firm  reliance  upon  the  love  and  faithfulness 
of  God.  Sometimes,  when  I have  expressed  a fear  of  trials,  he  would 
answer,  ‘ The  Lord  orders  all,  and  I leave  everything  to  Him.  I always 
seem  conscious  He  gives  His  angels  charge  concerning  us,  and  there- 
fore think  we  are  equally  safe  everywhere.’  He  had  many  remarkable 
deliverances.  Sometimes,  both  himself  and  his  horse,  in  dark  nights, 
have  fallen  down  steep  places,  and  yet  both  have  been  preserved.  Once, 

I believe  in  Wales,  in  passing  over  a wooden  bridge  it  broke  asunder, 
and  he  and  his  mare  sank  into  the  river,  but  both  got  safe  to  land. 

“A  little  before  his  last  illness,  being  on  his  knees  in  prayer  for  light 
whether  he  should  go  to  London  or  not,^  the  answer  seemed  to  him,  ‘ No, 
not  to  London,  but  to  your  grave.’  Acquainting  me  with  this,  he  said, 


^ No  doubt  to  attend  Wesley’s  Conference,  which  began  on  July  26. 


Age  s5.] 


Fletcher  s Last  Illness. 


561 


with  a heavenly  smile,  ‘ Satan  would  represent  this  as  something*  awful, 
the  cold  gravCy  the  cold  graved  On  the  following  Sabbath  (which  I 
think  was  the  next  day),  the  anthem  sung  in  the  church  was  the  Twenty- 
third  Psalm.  On  his  return  home,  he  observed  how  the  words  of  the 
Psalm  had  been  blest  to  him  ; and  from  that  time  he  seemed  to  be  with- 
out the  least  temptation. 

Still,  there  was  scarce  a night  but  some  part  of  it  was  spent  in  groans 
for  the  souls  and  bodies  of  those  committed  to  his  care.  I really  dreaded 
his  hearing  either  of  the  sins  or  sufferings  of  any  of  his  people  before  he 
went  to  bed,  knowing  how  strong  the  impression  would  be  upon  his 
mind. 

In  the  last  years  of  his  life,  he  never,  except  once,  travelled  far  from 
home  without  being  in  danger  of  a relapse  into  his  consumption  ; and 
after  his  return,  he  would  be  weeks  before  he  recovered  his  usual  strength. 
He  also  sometimes  said  to  me  that,  though  he  had  been  engaged  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord  in  various  places  and  situations,  the  seasons  of  his 
closest  communion  with  God  were  always  in  his  own  house  and  church. 

“ With  regard  to  his  communion  with  God,  he  constantly  endeavoured 
to  maintain  an  uninterrupted  sense  of  the  Divine  presence.  In  order 
to  this,  he  was  slow  of  speech,  and  had  the  greatest  government  of 
his  words.  He  acted,  he  spake,  he  thought,  as  under  the  immediate 
eye  of  God.  Thus  setting  God  always  before  him,  he  remained  unmoved, 
at  all  times  possessing  internal  recollection.  I never  saw  him  diverted 
therefrom  on  any  occasion  whatever.  I travelled  with  him  above  a 
thousand  miles,  during  which  journeys  neither  change  of  company, 
place,  nor  circumstances  ever  seemed  to  make  the  least  difference  in  his 
fixed  attention  to  the  presence  of  God.  He  was  always  striving  to  raise 
his  own  and  every  other  spirit  into  close  and  immediate  intercourse 
with  God ; and  I can  say,  with  truth,  that  all  his  union  with  me  was  so 
mingled  with  prayer  and  praise,  that  every  employment  and  every  meal 
were  perfumed  therewith. 

Some  time  ago,  when  the  fever  began  to  rage  among  us,  he  preached 
a sermon  on  visiting  the  sick  ; in  which  he  seemed  to  be  carried  out  of 
himself,  observing,  ‘What  do  you  fear?  You  are  afraid  of  catching 
the  distemper,  and  of  dying  with  those  who  have  it.  O fear  no  more  I 
What  an  honour  to  die  in  your  Master’s  service  ! If  this  were  permitted 
to  me,  I should  esteem  it  a singular  favour.’ 

“ During  the  last  few  months,  though  his  health  and  strength  sensibly 
increased,  he  was  constantly  crying  out  for  dying  grace.  Often  would 
he  say,  ‘ O Mary,  I am  afraid  lest  we  should  have  our  good  things  here. 
Let  us  look  up.  Let  us  live  above  all.  We  have  one  foot  in  the  grave.’ 
He  scarcely  ever  lay  down  or  rose  up  without  repeating — 

“ I nothing  have,  I nothing  am  ; 

My  treasure’s  in  the  bleeding  Lamb, 

Both  now  and  evermore. 

“There  was  scarce  an  hour  in  which  he  was  not  calling  upon  me  to 
drop  every  thought  and  every  care,  that  we  might  attend  to  nothing 

36 


562 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1785- 


but  drinking  deeper  into  God.  We  spent  much  time  in  prayer  for  the 
fulness  of  the  Spirit,  and  were  led  to  an  act  of  abandonment  (as  we 
called  it)  of  our  whole  selves  into  the  hands  of  God,  to  do  or  to  suffer 
whatever  was  pleasing  to  Him. 

On  Thursday,  August  4,  he  was  occupied  in  the  work  of  God 
from  three  in  the  afternoon  till  nine  at  night ; when  he  came  home,  and 
said,  ‘I  have  taken  cold.’  On  Friday  and  Saturday,  he  w^as  poorly; 
but  went  out  part  of  each  day,  and  seemed  uncommonly  drawn  out  in 
prayer. 

On  Saturday  night,  his  fever  first  appeared  very  strong.  I begged 
him  not  to  go  to  the  church  in  the  morning ; but  to  let  a pious  brother,^ 
who  was  with  us,  preach  in  the  yard  ; but  he  told  me,  it  was  the  will  of 
the  Lord  that  he  should  go.  When  I met  a little  company  of  our  pious 
women,  on  Sunday  morning,  I begged  they  would  pray  that  he  might 
be  strengthened.  In  reading  the  prayers,  he  almost  fainted.  I got 
through  the  crowd,  with  a friend,  and  entreated  him  to  come  out  of  the 
desk,  as  did  some  others  ; but,  in  his  sweet  manner,  he  let  us  know  we 
were  not  to  interrupt  the  order  of  God.  I then  retired  to  my  pew.  All 
around  me  were  in  tears.  When  he  was  a little  refreshed,  by  the  windows 
being  opened  and  a nosegay  thrown  into  the  desk  by  a friend,  he  pro- 
ceeded with  the  service.  Going  into  the  pulpit,  he  preached  with  a 
strength  and  recollection  which  surprised  us  all.  In  his  first  prayer,  he 
said,  ‘ Lord,  Thou  wilt  manifest  Thy  strength  in  weakness.  We  confer 
not  with  flesh  and  blood ; but  put  our  trust  under  the  shadow  of  Thy 
wings.’ 

His  text  was,  ^ O Lord,  Thou  preservest  man  and  beast.  How  excel- 
lent is  Thy  lovingkindness,  O God ! therefore  the  children  of  men  put  their 
trust  under  the  shadow  of  Thy  wings.’  After  sermon,  he  went  up  the 
aisle  to  the  communiourtable,  with  these  words,  ‘ I am  going  to  throw 
myself  under  the  wings  of  the  cherubim,  before  the  mercy-seat.’  The 
congregation  was  large,  and  the  service  lasted  till  nearly  two  o’clock. 
Sometimes  he  could  scarcely  stand,  and  was  often  obliged  to  stop  for 
want  of  power  to  speak.  The  people  were  deeply  affected.  Weeping 
was  on  every  side,  Notwithstanding  his  extreme  weakness,  he  gave 
out  several  verses  of  hymns,  and  uttered  various  lively  sentences  of 
exhortation. 

As  soon  as  the  service  was  over,  we  hurried  him  away  to  bed,  where 
he  immediately  fainted.  He  then  dropped  into  a sleep  for  some  time  ; 
and,  when  he  awoke,  he  cried  out,  with  a pleasant  smile,  ^ Now,  my 
dear,  thou  seest  I am  no  worse  for  doing  the  Lord’s  work.  He  never 
fails  me  when  I trust  in  Him.’  He  dozed  most  of  the  evening,  now  and 
then  awaking  full  of  the  praises  of  God.  At  night,  his  fever  returned, 
and  his  strength  decreased  amazingly. 

On  Monday  and  Tuesday,  he  lay  on  a couch  in  the  study,  was  at 
times  very  restless,  but  often  slept.  When  awake,  he  was  delighted  in 
hearing  me  read  hymns,  and  tracts  on  faith  and  love.  His  words  were 


No  doubt,  one  of  Wesley’s  preachers. 


Age  55.] 


Fletcher  Dying. 


563 


animating-,  and  his  patience  beyond  expression.  I asked,  ‘ Hast  thou 
any  conviction  that  the  Lord  is  about  to  take  thee?’  He  answered, 

' No,  not  in  particular;  only  I always  see  death  so  near,  that  we  both 
seem  to  stand  on  the  verge  of  eternity.’  Sometimes  he  would  say,  ^ O 
Polly ! shall  I ever  see  the  day  when  thou  must  be  carried  out  to  be 
buried  ? I shrink  at  giving  my  dear  Polly  to  the  worms.’  Awaking  on 
one  occasion,  he  said,  ^ It  was  Israel’s  fault  that  they  asked  for  signs. 
We  will  not  do  so  ; but,  abandoning  our  whole  selves  into  the  hands  of 
God,  we  will  there  lie  patiently,  assured  that  He  will  do  all  things 
well.’ 

On  Wednesday,  August  10,  he  told  me,  he  had  received  such  a 
manifestation  of  the  full  meaning  of  the  words,  ‘ God  is  love'  as  he 
could  not  tell.  ' It  fills  me'  he  said,  ‘it  fills  me  every  moment.  O 
Polly  ! my  dear  Polly  ! God  is  love  I Shout ! Shout  aloud  ! Oh  ! it  so 
fills  me,  that  I want  a gust  of  praise  to  go  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  But 
it  seems  as  if  I could  not  speak  much  longer.  Let  us  fix  upon  a sign 
between  ourselves’  (tapping  me  twice  with  his  finger).  ‘By  this  I mean 
God  is  lovOy  and  we  will  draw  each  other  into  God.  Observe  / by  this 
we  will  draw  each  other  into  God.'  Sally  coming  in,  he  cried,  ‘O 
Sally  ! God  is  love  I Shout,  both  of  you  ! I want  to  hear  you  shout  His 
praise ! ’ All  this  time,  his  medical  attendant  hoped  he  was  in  no  danger. 
He  knew  his  disease  to  be  the  fever ; but,  as  he.  had  no  bad  headache, 
slept  much  without  the  least  delirium,  and  had  an  almost  regular  pulse, 
the  symptoms  were  thought  to  be  favourable. 

‘ ‘ On  Thursday,  August  1 1 , his  speech  began  to  fail ; but  to  his  friendly 
doctor  he  would  not  be  silent  while  he  had  any  power  to  speak,  often 
saying,  ‘ O Sir,  you  take  much  thought  for  my  body ; give  me  leave  to 
take  thought  for  your  soul.’  When  I could  scarcely  understand  anything 
he  said,  I spoke  the  words,  ‘ God  is  love  /'  Instantly  he  caught  them, 
and  broke  out  in  a rapture,  ‘ God' is  love,  love,  love  / O for  the  gust  of 
praise  I want  to  sound  ! ’ Here  his  voice  again  failed.  If  I named  his 
sufferings,  he  would  smile,  and  make  the  sign. 

“ On  Friday,  August  12,  finding  his  body  covered  with  spots,  I so  far 
understood  them  as  to  feel  a sword  pierce  through  my  soul.  As  I knelt 
by  his  bed,  with  my  hand  in  his,  intreating  the  Lord  to  be  with  us  in 
this  tremendous  hour,  he  strove  to  say  many  things,  but  could  not.  At 
length,  pressing  my  hand,  and  often  repeating  the  sign,  he  breathed 
out,  ‘ Head  of  the  Church,  be  head  to  my  wife!’  Sally  said  to  him, 

‘ My  dear  master,  do  you  know  me  He  replied,  ‘ Sally,  God  will  put 
His  right  hand  under  you.’  She  added,  ‘ O my  dear  master,  should 
you  be  taken  away,  what  a disconsolate  creature  will  my  poor  mistress 
be!’  He  answered,  ‘God  will  be  her  all  in  all.’  He  had  always 
delighted  in  the  lines — 

“ ‘ Jesu’s  blood,  through  earth  and  skies, 

Mercy,  free,  boundless  mercy  cries.’ 

“When  I repeated  them  to  him,  he  cried,  ‘Boundless,  boundless  I ' 
and  added,  though  with  great  difficulty — 


564 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


‘‘  ‘ Mercy’s  full  power  I soon  shall  prove, 

Lov’d  with  an  everlasting  love.’ 

On  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  August  13,  while  a few  Christian 
friends  were  standing  near  his  bed,  he  stretched  out  his  hand  to  each  of 
them,  and,  to  a minister,  remarked,  ‘Are  you  ready  to  assist  to-morrow?  ’ 
One  asked,  ‘ Do  you  think  the  Lord  will  raise  you  up  ?’  He  strove  to 
answer,  ‘Raise  in  resur  . . . raise  in  resur  . . . To  another,  who 
put  the  same  question,  he  replied,  ‘I  leave  it  all  to  God.’  I said,  ‘My 
dear  creature,  I ask  not  for  myself,  but  for  the  sake  of  others.  If  Jesus 
is  very  present  with  thee,  lift  thy  right  hand.’  He  did  so.  I added, 

‘ If  the  prospect  of  glory  opens  before  thee,  repeat  the  sign.’  He  raised 
his  hand  again  ; and,  in  half  a minute,  a second  time.  After  this,  his 
dear  hands  moved  no  more ; but,  on  my  asking,  ‘ Art  thou  in  much 
pain  ?’  he  answered,  ‘No.’ 

“ From  this  time,  he  entered  into  a kind  of  sleep,  though  with  his 
eyes  open  and  fixed.  Twenty-four  hours,  my  dearly  beloved  breathed 
like  a person  in  common  sleep ; and  then,  at  thirty-five  minutes  past 
ten  on  Sunday  night,  August  14,  his  precious  soul  entered  into  the  joy 
of  his  Lord,  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  I was  scarce  a minute  at 
a time  from  him,  night  or  day,  during  his  illness,  and  I can  truly  say — 

“ ‘ No  cloud  did  arise,  to  darken  the  skies. 

Or  hide  for  one  moment  his  Lord  from  his  eyes.’ 

“ And  here  I break  off  my  mournful  story.  On  my  bleeding  heart,  his 
fair  picture  of  heavenly  excellence  will  be  for  ever  drawn.  When  I call 
to  mind  his  ardent  zeal,  his  laborious  endeavours  to  seek  and  save  the 
lost,  his  diligence  in  the  employment  of  his  time,  his  Christlike  con- 
descension towards  me,  and  his  uninterrupted  converse  with  heaven, 

I may  well  be  allowed  to  add,  my  loss  is  beyond  the  power  of  words  to 
paint. 

“ On  August  17,  his  dear  remains  were  deposited  in  Madeley  church- 
yard ; amid  the  tears  and  lamentations  of  thousands,  who  flocked  about 
the  bier  of  their  dead  pastor.  Between  the  house  and  the  church,  they 
sung  these  verses  : — 

“ ‘ With  heavenly  weapons  he  hath  fought 
The  battles  of  the  Lord : 

Finish’d  his  course,  and  kept  the  faith, 

And  gain’d  the  great  reward. 

“ ‘ God  hath  laid  up  in  heaven  for  him 
A crown  which  cannot  fade  ; 

The  righteous  Judge,  at  that  great  day, 

Shall  place  it  on  his  head.’ 

‘ ‘ The  service  was  performed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hatton,  Rector  of 


Age  55.] 


Fletcher' s Death  and  Burial. 


565 


Waters-Upton,  whom  the  Lord  moved,  in  a pathetic  manner,  to  speak 
to  the  weeping  flock.  At  my  request,  he  read  the  following  paper  : — ^ 

* It  was  the  desire  of  my  beloved  husband  to  be  buried  in  this  plain 
manner,  and,  out  of  tenderness,  he  begged  that  I might  not  be  present. 
In  all  things  I would  obey  him. 

‘ Permit  me,  by  the  mouth  of  a friend,  to  bear  my  testimony,  to  the 
glory  of  God,  that  I never  knew  anyone  walk  so  closely  with  God  as  he 
did.  The  Lord  gave  him  a conscience  tender  as  the  apple  of  an  eye. 
He  literally  preferred  the  interest  of  every  one  to  his  own.  He  shared 
his  all  with  the  poor,  who  lay  so  close  his  heart,  that,  when  his  speech 
was  so  gone  that  he  could  utter  nothing  without  difflculty,  he  cried  out, 

‘ ^ O my  Poor  I What  will  become  of  my  Poor  ? ’ ’ He  was  blessed  with 
so  great  a degree  of  humility  as  is  scarcely  to  be  found.  I am  witness, 
how  often  he  has  taken  real  pleasure  in  being  treated  with  contempt. 
It  seemed  the  very  food  of  his  soul,  to  be  little  and  unknown.  When  he 
said  to  me,  Thou  wilt  write  a line  or  two  to  my  brother  in  Switzerland, 
if  I die,”  I replied,  My  dear,  dear  love,  I will  write  him  all  the  Lord’s 
dealings  with  thee.”  ^^No,  no,”  said  he,  write  nothing  about  me. 
I only  desire  to  be  forgotten.  God  is  allP 

^ His  diligent  visitation  of  the  sick  laid  the  foundation  of  the  spotted 
fever  of  which  he  died ; and  his  vehement  desire  to  take  his  last  leave 
of  you,  with  dying  lips  and  hands,  gave  (it  is  supposed)  the  finishing 
stroke,  by  preparing  his  blood  for  putrefaction.  Thus  did  he  live  and 
die  your  servant. 

^ He  walked  with  death  always  in  sight.  About  two  months  ago,  he 
came  to  me  and  said,  ” My  dear  love,  I know  not  how  it  is,  but  I have 
a strange  impression  death  is  very  near  us,  as  if  it  would  be  a sudden 
stroke  upon  one  of  us  ; and  it  draws  out  my  soul  in  prayer  that  we  may 
be  ready.”  He  then  broke  out,  Lord,  prepare  the  soul  Thou  wilt  call ; 
and,  O stand  by  the  poor  disconsolate  one  who  shall  be  left  behind  ! ” 
Three  years,  nine  months,  and  two  days,  I have  possessed  my 
heavenly -minded  husband;  but  now  the  sun  of  my  earthly  joy  is  set 
for  everi  ” 

This  is  a very  artless  story  ; but  it  is  not  less  valuable 
because  of  that.  Mrs.  Fletcher  sent  a copy  to  Charles 
Wesley,  together  with  the  following  note  : — 

''Madeley,  Augustin^,  1785. 

Dear  Sir, — Enclosed  you  have  an  account  of  my  feelings  when  I 
thought  myself  dying,  as  did  most  about  me.  I prayed  for  strength  to 
do  justice  to  my  dearest,  dearest  love.  I wrote  it  in  one  day,  but  could 
not  go  over  it  a second  time.  Take  it,  then,  as  it  flowed  from  my  full 


^ Mr.  Hatton  also  preached  a funeral  sermon,  founded  on  Hebrews 
xiii.  7. 


566 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


heart,  without  a second  thought,  and  pray  for  your  deeply  distressed 
friend.  I cannot  find  your  brother.  I wrote  to  him  at  first,  but  have 
got  no  answer.^’ ^ 

Wesley,  in  his  eighty-third  year,  was  in  the  west  of 
England,  travelling  and  preaching  with  surprising  energy. 
On  the  day  of  Fletcher  s death,  he  preached  twice  at  Salis- 
bury ; then  hastened  to  Shaftesbury,  Castle-Carey,  Shepton- 
Mallet,  Taunton,  Collumpton,  Exeter,  and  Plymouth  ; then 
went  right  through  Cornwall  ; and,  on  September  3,  got  to 
Bristol,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  which  city  he  spent  a month. 
On  October  3,  he  came  to  London  ; then  made  what  he 
calls  a little  excursion  ” into  Hertfordshire,  another  into 
Oxfordshire,  and  a third  into  Norfolk.  Here,  at  Nor- 
wich, on  October  24,  he  found  time  to  write  a sermon  on 
the  death  of  Fletcher,  which  he  delivered  in  London  on 
November  6.  Th^  sermon  was  published  immediately,  with 
the  following  address  ‘‘  To  the  reader  ” prefixed  ^ : — 

A consciousness  of  my  own  inability  to  describe,  in  a manner  worth}^ 
of  the  subject,  such  a person  as  Mr.  Fletcher,  was  one  great  reason  of 
my  not  writing  this  sooner.  I judged,  only  an  Apelles  was  proper  to 
paint  an  Alexander . But  I,  at  length,  submitted  to  importunity,  and 
hastily  put  together  some  memorials  of  this  great  man  : intending,  if 
God  permit,  when  I have  more  leisure  and  more  materials,  to  write  a 
fuller  account  of  his  life. 

^'JOHN  Wesley. 

‘‘London,  November  9,  1785.^’ 

The  concluding  paragraph  of  Wesley’s  sermon  must  be 
quoted  : — 

“For  many  years,  I despaired  of  finding  any  inhabitant  of  Great 
Britain  that  could  stand  in  any  degree  of  comparison  with  Gregory 
Lopez,  or  Monsieur  de  Renty.  But  let  any  impartial  person  judge,  if 
Mr.  Fletcher  was  at  all  inferior  to  them  ? Did  he  not  experience  as 
deep  communion  with  God,  and  as  high  a measure  of  inward  holiness, 
as  was  experienced  either  by  one  or  the  other  of  those  burning  and 
shining  lights  ? And  it  is  certain  his  outward  holiness  shone  before 


^ Jackson’s  “Life  of  C.  Wesley,”  vol.  ii.,  p.  432. 

^ The  title  was,  “A  Sermon  preached  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Death 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Fletcher,  Vicar  of  Madeley,  Shropshire.  By  John 
Wesley,  A.M.”  i2mo.  32  pp. 


Age  55.]  Wesley  preaches  Fletcher^ s Funeral  Sermon,  567 


men,  with  full  as  bright  a lustre  as  theirs.  But  if  any  should  attempt 
to  draw  a parallel  between  them,  there  are  two  circumstances  that 
deserve  consideration.  One  is,  we  are  not  assured  that  the  writers  of 
their  Lives  did  not  extenuate,  if  not  suppress,  what  was  amiss  in  them. 
And  some  things  amiss  we  are  assured  there  were,  namely,  many 
touches  of  superstition,  and  some  of  idolatry,  in  worshipping  Saints, 
the  Virgin  Mary  in  particular.  But  I have  not  suppressed  or  extenuated 
anything  in  Mr.  Fletcher’s  character.  For  indeed  I knew  nothing  that 
was  amiss,  nothing  that  needed  to  be  extenuated,  much  less  suppressed. 
A second  circumstance  is,  that  the  Writers  of  their  Lives  could  not 
have  so  full  a knowledge  of  them,  as  both  Mrs.  Fletcher  and  I had  of 
Mr.  Fletcher,  being  both  eye  and  ear-witnesses  of  his  whole  conduct. 
Consequently,  we  know  that  his  life  was  not  sullied  with  any  mixture  of 
either  idolatry  or  superstition.  I was  intimately  acquainted  with  him 
for  above  thirty  years.  I conversed  with  him  morning,  noon,  and  night, 
without  the  least  reserve,  during  a journey  of  many  hundred  miles. 
And,  in  all  that  time,  I never  heard  him  speak  one  improper  word,  nor 
saw  him  do  an  improper  action. — To  conclude.  Many  exemplary  men 
have  I known,  holy  in  heart  and  life,  within  fourscore  years.  But  one 
equal  to  him  I have  not  known  : one  so  inwardly  and  outwardly  devoted 
to  God.  So  unblameable  a character  in  every  respect,  I have  not  found 
either  in  Europe  or  America.  And  I scarce  expect  to  find  another  such, 
on  this  side  eternity.” 

Human  praise  could  not  be  higher  than  this  ; and  yet 
even  the  Monthly  Review^  which  had  so  often  and  so  un- 
justly denounced  the  Methodists,  in  its  notice  of  Wesley’s 
sermon,  remarked  : — 

Mr.  Fletcher  was  one  of  the  most  considerable  among  the  Methodist 
ministers  of  the  Wesleyan  division.  We  have  long  been  acquainted 
with  his  good  character ; and  we  firmly  believe  that  the  high  encomiums 
here  passed  on  him  were  justly  merited  in  their  fullest  extent.”  ^ 

Scores  of  other  eulogies  have  been  written,  but  only  four 
shall  be  added  here,  and  these  by  persons  who  were  well 
acquainted  with  the  man  of  whom  they  speak. 

The  Rev.  Joshua  Gilpin’s  elaborate  biographical  Notes,” 
interspersed  in  Fletcher’s  Portrait  of  St.  Paul,”  are  too 
numerous  and  lengthened  to  be  introduced,  but  an  extract 
from  the  last  of  them  (the  twenty-ninth)  must  be  given:  — 

‘^On  the  day  of  Mr.  Fletcher’s  departure,  as  I was  preparing  to 


Monthly  Review y 1786,  p.  79. 


568 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


attend  my  own  church,  which  was  at  the  distance  of  nine  miles  from 
Madeley,  I received  a message  from  Mrs.  Fletcher,  requesting  my  imme- 
diate attendance  at  the  vicarage.  I instantly  followed  the  messenger,  and 
found  Mr.  Fletcher  with  every  symptom  of  approaching  dissolution  upon 
him.  I had  ever  looked  up  to  this  man  of  God  with  an  extraordinary 
degree  of  affection  and  reverence  ; and,  on  this  afflicting  occasion,  my 
heart  was  uncommonly  affected  and  depressed.  It  was  now  in  vain  to 
recollect  that  public  duty  required  my  presence  in  another  place.  Un- 
fitted for  every  duty,  except  that  of  silently  watching  the  bed  of  death, 
I found  it  impossible  to  withdraw  from  the  solemn  scene.  I had  received 
from  this  evangelical  teacher,  in  days  that  were  past,  many  excellent 
precepts  with  respect  to  holy  living ; and  now  I desired  to  receive  from 
him  the  last  important  lesson  with  respect  to  holy  dying.  And  truly 
this  concluding  lesson  was  of  inestimable  worth,  since  so  much  patience 
and  resignation,  so  much  peace  and  composure,  were  scarcely  ever  dis- 
covered in  the  same  circumstances  before. 

‘‘While  their  pastor  was  breathing  out  his  soul  into  the  hands  of  a 
faithful  Creator,  his  people  were  offering  up  their  joint  supplications  on 
his  behalf  in  the  house  of  God-  Little,  however,  was  seen  among  them 
but  affliction  and  tears. ^ The  whole  village  wore  an  air  of  consternation 
and  sadness,  and  not  one  joyful  song  was  heard  among  its  inhabitants. 
Hasty  messengers  were  passing  to  and  fro  with  anxious  enquiries  and 
confused  reports  ; and  the  members  of  every  family  sat  together  in 
silence  that  day,  awaiting,  with  trembling  expectation,  the  issue  of  every 
hour.  After  the  conclusion  of  the  evening  service,  several  of  the  poor, 
who  came  from  distant  parts,  and  who  were  usually  entertained  under 
Mr.  Fletcher’s  roof,  still  lingered  about  the  house,  and  seemed  unable 
to  tear  themselves  away  from  the  place  without  a sight  of  their  expiring 
pastor.  Secretly  informed  of  their  desire,  I obtained  them  the  per- 
mission they  wished ; and  the  door  of  the  chamber  being  set  open, 
immediately  before  which  Mr.  Fletcher  was  sitting  upright  in  his  bed, 
with  the  curtains  undrawn,  they  slowly  moved,  one  by  one,  along  the 
gallery,  severally  pausing  as  they  passed  by  the  door,  and  casting  in  a 
look  of  mingled  supplication  and  anguish.  It  was,  indeed,  an  affecting 
sight. 

“And  now  the  hour  speedily  approached  that  was  to  put  a solemn 
termination  to  our  hopes  and  fears.  His  weakness  very  perceptibly 
increased,  but  his  countenance  continued  unaltered  to  the  last.  Mrs. 


^ Another  writer,  who  was  present,  relates  that  the  congregation  sang, 
or  tried  to  sing,  the  affecting  hymn  which  was  composed  and  used 
at  the  time  of  Fletcher’s  dangerous  illness  in  1776  (see  pp.  362  and  368). 
He  further  says,  “I  never  was  witness  to  a scene  so  impressive  and 
pathetic.  Every  breast  felt,  every  countenance  expressed,  one  common 
sentiment.  Tears,  sobs,  and  suppressed  groans  showed  how  sincerely 
the  people  esteemed  their  venerable  pastor.  When  the  hymn  was  sung, 
there  was  a general  burst  of  sorrow.  Even  those  who  had  spurned  his 
instructions,  deprecated  his  death  as  a public  loss,  and  expressed  their 
grief  with  uncommon  agitation.”  (Methodist  Magazine y 1802,  p.  572.) 


Age  55.] 


Testimonies  concerning  Fletcher. 


569 


Fletcher  was  kneeling  by  the  side  of  her  departing  husband,  the  medical 
attendant  sat  at  his  head,  while  I sorrowfully  waited  near  his  feet.  Un- 
certain whether  or  not  he  was  totally  separated  from  us,  we  pressed 
nearer ; but  his  warfare  was  accomplished,  and  the  happy  spirit  had 
taken  its  everlasting  flight.” 

James  Ireland,  Esq.,  was  one  of  Fletcher’s  most  loving 
and  well-beloved  friends.  In  an  unpublished  letter,  addressed 
to  Mrs.  Fletcher,  and  dated  ‘‘Brislington,  November  6,  1785,” 
he  says,  Wesley  had  informed  him  he  was  about  to  write  the 

Life  of  Fletcher,”  and  had  asked  him  to  supply  materials. 
In  his  reply,  he  had  said,  I cannot  assist  you  to  write  the 
life  of  my  dear  friend,  though  I have  ever  respected  and 
honoured  you.”  Mr.  Ireland  adds,  that  whatever  information 
he  can  furnish  he  will  send  to  Mrs.  Fletcher,  and  leave  it  to 
her  to  use  as  she  thinks  best.  He  then  proceeds  : — 

I have  often  felt  that  I would  have  divided  my  last  shilling  with  Mr. 
Fletcher.  We  were  once  for  months  together,  day  and  night ; and 
when  we  parted,  we  both  wept.  Such  a soul  I never  knew ; such  a 
great  man,  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  He  was  too  great  to  bear  the 
name  of  any  sect.  Mr.  Townsend,  with  whom  I lately  parted,  speaks  of 
him  as  the  greatest  man  that  has  lived  in  this  century,  and  begs  his 
life  may  not  be  penned  in  haste.” 

In  another  unpublished  letter,  also  addressed  to  Mrs. 
Fletcher,  and  dated  ‘‘October  6,  1786,”  Mr.  Ireland  wrote: — 

I never  saw  Mr.  Fletcher* s equal.  On  him  great  grace  was  be- 
stowed. What  deadness  to  the  world  ! What  spiritual  mindedness  ! 
What  zeal  for  souls  ! What  communion  with  God  ! What  intercourse 
with  heaven  ! What  humility  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  ! What  moderation 
towards  all  men  ! What  love  for  the  poor  ! In  short,  he  possessed  the 
mind  which  was  in  Christ  Jesus.” 

, The  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  after  reading  Wesley’s  “ Life  of 
Fletcher,”  wrote  as  follows  to  Lady  Mary  Fitzgerald  : — 

“Yelling,  March  3,  1787.  Mr.  Fletcher’s  was  so  unfeigned 

and  so  deep,  that  when  I thanked  him  for  two  sermons  he  had  one  day 
preached  to  my  people  at  Huddersfield,  he  answered  as  no  man  ever 
did  to  me.  With  eyes  and  hands  uplifted,  he  exclaimed,  ‘ Pardon, 
pardon,  pardon,  O my  God  ! ’ The  words  went  to  my  very  soul.  Great 
grace  was  upon  this  blessed  servant  of  Christ. 

“ Love  to  man  and  bowels  of  mercies  displayed  in  him  a noble  imita- 


570 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[178S. 


tion  of  his  Incarnate  God.  He  indeed  thought  a day  lost,  and  could 
find  no  rest  in  his  soul,  unless  he  was  doing  good  to  the  bodies  and 
souls  of  men. 

Love  to  the  Lord, — How  did  it  govern  and  flourish  in  dear  Mr. 
Fletcher  ! His  admirable  consort  tells  us,  he  scarcely  was  awake  in 
the  night  a moment  without  lifting  up  his  soul  to  God  in  holy  aspirations. 

‘‘  I have  seen  Mr.  Fletcher,  for  six  weeks  together,  under  a hectic 
fever,  sometimes  spitting  blood,  when  night  after  night  he  could  rest 
very  little — well  pleased  to  suffer — never  complaining,  never  but  cheer- 
ful. Once,  when  I asked  him  how  he  did,  * Oh  ! ’ said  he,  ‘ how  light 
is  the  chastisement  I suffer  ! How  heavy  the  strokes  I deserve  ! I love 
the  rod  of  my  heavenly  Father ! ’ Like  his  Saviour,  he  could  continue 
in  prayer,  in  the  wood,  all  night  long  ; and,  like  Him,  lie  prostrate  on 
the  ground,  pleading  for  grace  to  fulfil  his  ministry.’’  ^ 

Between  Fletcher  and  Joseph  Benson  there  v/as  a most 
intimate  and  confidential  friendship.  Benson,  in  a letter  to 
Wesley,  wrote : — 

‘‘As  to  drawing  the  character  of  that  great  and  good  man,  Mr. 
Fletcher,  it  is  what  I will  not  attempt.  I have  been  looking  over  many 
of  his  letters,  and  observe  in  them  all,  what  I have  a thousand  times 
observed  in  his  conversation  and  behaviour,  the  plainest  marks  of  every 
Christian  grace  and  virtue. 

“ Perhaps,  if  he  followed  his  Master  more  closely  in  one  thing  than 
another,  it  was  in  humility.  He  was  constantly  upon  his  guard  lest 
any  expression  should  drop,  either  from  his  lips  or  pen,  which  tended 
to  make  anyone  think  well  of  him  ; either  on  account  of  his  family,  or 
learning,  or  parts,  or  usefulness.  He  took  as  much  pains  to  conceal 
his  excellences,  as  others  do  to  show  theirs. 

“ He  was  a man  of  a serious  sffrit,  one  that  stood  at  the  utmost 
distance  from  levity  of  every  kind.  Though  he  was  constantly  cheerful, 
as  rejoicing  in  hope  of  his  heavenly  inheritance,  yet  he  had  too  deep  a 
sense  of  his  own  wants,  and  the  wants  of  the  Church  of  God,  as  also  of 
the  sins  and  miseries  of  mankind,  to  be  at  any  time  light  or  trifling. 

“In  hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness,  he  was  pecu- 
liarly worthy  of  our  imitation.  He  never  rested  in  anything  he  had 
either  experienced  or  done  in  spiritual  matters.  He  was  a true  Christian 
racer,  always  on  the  stretch  for  higher  and  better  things.  Though  his 
attainments,  both  in  experience  and  usefulness,  were  far  above  the 
common  standard,  yet  the  language  of  his  conversation  and  behaviour 
always  was,  ‘ Not  as  though  I had  already  attained,  either  were  already 
perfected  ; but  I follow  after,  if  by  any  means  I may  apprehend  that  for 
which  I am  apprehended  of  Christ  Jesus.’  He  had  his  eye  upon  a full 


^ “ Life  of  Rev.  H.  Venn,”  pp.  578-584. 


Age  55.] 


Testimonies  concerning  Fletcher. 


571 


conformity  to  the  Son  of  God;  or  what  the  Apostle  terms,  ‘the  measure 
of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ/  Nor  could  he  be  satisfied  with 
anything  less. 

“ He  was  meek,  like  his  Master,  as  well  as  lowly  in  heart.  Not  that 
he  was  so  by  nature,  but  of  a fiery,  passionate  spirit ; insomuch  that  he 
has  frequently  thrown  himself  on  the  floor,  and  lain  there  most  of  the 
night  bathed  in  tears,  imploring  victory  over  his  own  temper.  And  he 
did  obtain  the  victory,  in  a very  eminent  degree.  For  twenty  years  and 
upwards  before  his  death,  no  one  ever  saw  him  out  of  temper,  or  heard 
him  utter  a rash  expression,  on  any  provocation  whatever.^  And  he  did 
not  want  provocation,  and  that  sometimes  in  a high  degree  ; especially 
from  those  whose  religious  sentiments  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  oppose. 
But  none  of  these  things  moved  him  : no,  not  in  the  least  degree.  The 
keenest  word  he  used  was,  ‘ What  a world,  what  a religious  world  we 
live  in  ! ’ I have  often  thought  the  testimony,  that  Bishop  Burnet  bears 
of  Archbishop  Leighton,  might  be  borne  of  him  with  equal  propriety : 
‘ After  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  many  years,  and  after  being  with 
him  by  night  and  by  day,  at  home  and  abroad,  in  public  and  in  private, 
on  sundry  occasions  and  in  various  affairs, — I must  say,  I never  heard 
an  idle  word  drop  from  his  lips,  nor  any  conversation  which  was  not  to 
the  use  of  edifying.  I never  saw  him  in  any  temper,  in  which  I myself 
would  not  have  wished  to  be  found  at  death. ^ Any  one,  who  has  been 
intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  Fletcher,  will  say  the  same  of  him : and 
they  who  knew  him  best  will  say  it  with  the  most  assurance. 

“ Hence  arose  his  readiness  to  bear  with  the  weaknesses,  and  forgive 
the  faults  of  others  : which  was  the  more  remarkable,  considering  his 
flaming  zeal  against  sin,  and  his  concern  for  the  glory  of  God.  Such 
hatred  to  sin,  and  such  love  to  the  sinner,  I never  saw  joined  together 
before. 

“ He  never  mentioned  the  faults  of  an  absent  person,  unless  absolute 
duty  required  it.  And  then  he  spoke  with  the  utmost  tenderness, 
extenuating,  rather  than  aggravating.  None  could  draw  his  picture 
more  exactly  than  St.  Paul  has  done,  in  the  thirteenth  chapter  of  the 
first  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians.  ‘ He  suffered  long  and  was  kind  ; he 
envied  not ; acted  not  rashly  ; was  not  puffed  up  ; did  not  behave  him- 
self unseemly;  sought  not  his  own;  was  not  easily  provoked;  he  thought 
no  evil ; rejoiced  not  in  iniquity,  but  rejoiced  in  the  truth ; he  covered 
all  things  ; believed  all  things ; hoped  all  things  ; and  endured  all 
things.’  It  would  be  easy  to  enlarge  on  all  these  particulars,  and  show 
how  they  were  exemplified  in  him ; but,  waiving  this,  I would  only 
observe,  that,  with  regard  to  two  of  them,  kindness  to  others,  and  not 
seeking  his  own,  he  had  few  equals. 

“ His  kindness  to  others  was  such,  that  he  bestowed  his  all  upon 
them  : his  time,  his  talents,  his  substance.  His  knowledge,  his  elo- 
quence, his  health,  his  money,  were  employed,  day  by  day,  for  the  good 


Wesley’s  “Life  of  Fletcher,”  p.  173. 


572 


Wesleys  Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


of  mankind.  He  prayed,  he  wrote,  he  preached,  he  visited  the  sick 
and  well,  he  conversed,  he  gave,  he  laboured,  he  suffered,  winter  and 
summer,  night  and  day;  he  endangered,  nay,  destroyed  his  health, 
and  in  the  end  gave  his  life  also  for  the  profit  of  his  neighbours,  that 
they  might  be  saved  from  everlasting  death.  He  denied  himself  even 
of  such  food  as  was  necessary  for  him,  that  he  might  have  to  give  to 
them  that  had  none.  And  when  he  was  constrained  to  change  his 
manner  of  living,  still  his  diet  was  plain  and  simple.  And  so  were  his 
clothing  and  furniture,  that  he  might  save  all  that  was  possible  for  his 
poor  neighbours. 

‘‘He  sought  not  his  own  in  any  sense  : not  his  own  honour,  but  the 
honour  of  God,  in  all  he  said  or  did.  He  sought  not  his  own  interest, 
but  the  interest  of  his  Lord,  spreading  knowledge,  holiness,  and  happi- 
ness, as  far  as  he  possibly  could.  He  sought  not  his  own  pleasure,  but 
studied  to  ‘ please  all  men,  for  their  good  to  edification  ; ^ and  to  please 
Him  that  had  called  him  to  His  kingdom  and  glory. 

“ But  I do  not  attempt  his  full  character.  I will  only  add,  ^ He  was 
blameless  and  harmless^  a son  of  God^  without  rebuke y in  the  midst 
of  a crooked  and  perverse  generation : shining  among  them  as  a 
light  in  the  world, ' ’ ^ 

Both  Wesley  and  Benson  insert  this  eulogium  in  their 
lives  of  Fletcher  ; but  Wesley  adds  : — 

“ I think  one  talent  wherewith  God  had  endued  Mr.  Fletcher  has  not 
been  sufficiently  noted  yet.  I mean  his  courtesy ; in  which  there  was 
not  the  least  touch  either  of  art  or  affectation.  It  was  pure  and  genuine, 
and  sweetly  constrained  him  to  behave  to  everyone  (although  particularly 
to  inferiors),  in  a manner  not  to  be  described  : with  so  inexpressible  a 
mixture  of  humility,  love,  and  respect.  This  directed  his  words,  the 
tone  of  his  voice,  his  looks,  his  whole  attitude,  his  every  motion. 

“ ‘ Grace  was  in  all  his  steps,  heaven  in  his  eye. 

In  all  his  gestures  sanctity  and  love.’  ” 

The  entry  of  Fletcher’s  death,  in  the  register  of  Madeley 
parish  church,  is  a brief  obituary  : — 

“ Memorandum. 

“John  Fletcher,  Clerk,  died  on  Sunday  evening,  August  14,  1785. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  apostolic  men  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 
His  abilities  were  extraordinary,  and  his  labours  were  unparalleled. 
He  was  a burning  and  shining  light ; and  as  his  life  had  been  a common 
blessing  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  parish,  so  the  death  of  this  great 
man  was  lamented  by  them  as  a common  and  irreparable  loss. 

“This  little  testimony  was  inserted  by  one  who  sincerely  loved  and 
honoured  him. 

“Joshua  Gilpin,  Vicar  of  Rockwardine.” 


Age  55.]  Inscription  on  Fletcher^ s Tombstone. 


573 


The  inscription  on  his  tombstone  was  written  by  his  widow, 
and  is  as  follows^ : — 

Here  lies  the  Body  of 

THE  REV.  JOHN  WILLIAM  DE  LA  FLECHERE, 

Vicar  of  Madeley, 

Who  was  born  at  Nyon,  in  Switzerland, 
September  the  i2TH,  1729, 

And  finished  his  course,  August  the  14TH,  1785, 

In  this  Village  ; 

WHERE  his  unexampled  LABOURS 
WILL  LONG  BE  REMEMBERED. 

He  exercised  his  Ministry  for  the  space  of 
Twenty-five  Years, 

In  this  Parish, 

with  uncommon  zeal  and  ability. 

MANY  BELIEVED  HIS  REPORT,  AND  BECAME 
HIS  JOY  AND  CROWN  OF  REJOICING  ; 

WHILE  OTHERS  CONSTRAINED  HIM  TO  TAKE  UP 
THE  LAMENTATION  OF  THE  PROPHET, 

'ALL  THE  DAY  LONG  HAVE  I STRETCHED  OUT  MY  HANDS 
UNTO  A DISOBEDIENT  AND  GAINSAYING  PEOPLE  : 

YET  SURELY  MY  JUDGMENT  IS  WITH  THE  LORD, 

AND  MY  WORK  WITH  MY  GOD.' 

" ^ He  being  dead^  yet  s^peaketk.^  ” 

Another  monument  of  Fletcher  must  be  mentioned,  erected 
in  Methodism’s  Westminster  Abbey  ” — the  sacred  old  chapel 
in  City  Road,  London.  It  is  placed  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the 
communion  table,  immediately  under  a monument  of  Wesley. 
The  sculpture  at  the  top  of  it  is  a representation  of  the  Ark 
of  the  Covenant.  At  one  side  are  volumes,  inscribed  with  the 
words,  “ Checks,”  and  “ Portrait  of  St.  Paul.”  At  the  other  side 


* The  inscription,  given  at  the  end  of  Wesley's  "Life  of  Fletcher," 
is  slightly  different.  In  an  unpublished  letter,  to  Mrs.  Crosby,  dated 
August  16,  1788,  Mrs.  Fletcher  wrote:  " What  was  written  on  my  dear’s 
tomb  was  different  from  my  directions,  though  done  with  a good  design 
to  mend  my  language.  I saw  it  not  to  be  as  good  as  my  own,  and  had 
it  altered"  (then  follows  the  inscription).  " Compare  this  with  that  in 
Mr.  Wesley's  'Life,'  and  give  Mr.  Downes  a copy  of  the  right  one.  Every 
one  was  much  pleased  with  the  change ; and,  indeed,  I was  never  at 
ease  till  it  was  done ; but  there  were  so  many  anxious  to  have  it  right 
that  they  spoiled  it." 


574 


Wesley's  Designated  Successor. 


[1785. 


is  an  expanded  scroll,  with  the  motto,  ‘‘  With  the  meekness 
of  wisdom  ” At  the  bottom  is  a dove,  hovering  over  pens 
and  a roll  of  paper.  The  inscription  on  the  tablet,  composed 
by  the  Rev.  Richard  Watson,^  is  as  follows  : — 

“ Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 
THE  REV.  JOHN  WILLIAM  DE  LA  FLECHERE, 
Vicar  of  Madeley  in  Shropshire  ; 

Born  at  Nyon,  in  Switzerland,  the  xii.  of  September, 

A.D.  MDCCXXIX  ; DiED  THE  XIV.  OF  AUGUST,  MDCCLXXXV. 

a'  man  eminent  for  genius,  eloquence,  and  theological  learning  ; 

STILL  MORE  DISTINGUISHED  FOR  SANCTITY  OF  MANNERS,  AND  THE  VIRTUES  OF  PRIMITIVE 

CHRISTIANITY. 

ADORNED  WITH  ‘WHATSOEVER  THINGS  ARE  PURE,  WHATSOEVER  THINGS  ARE  LOVELY,’ 
AND  BRINGING  FORTH  ‘ THE  FRUITS  OF  THE  SPIRIT,’  IN  SINGULAR  RICHNESS  AND  MATURITY. 
THE  MEASURE  OF  EVERY  OTHER  GRACE  IN  HIM  WAS  EXCEEDED  BY  HIS  DEEP  AND  UNAFFECTED 

HUMILITY. 

OF  ENLARGED  VIEWS  AS  TO  THE  MERIT  OF  THE  ATONEMENT, 

AND  OF  THOSE  GRACIOUS  RIGHTS  WITH  WHICH  IT  INVESTS  ALL  WHO  BELIEVE, 

HE  HAD  ‘ BOLDNESS  TO  ENTER  INTO  THE  HOLIEST  BY  THE  BLOOD  OF  JESUS,' 

AND  IN  REVERENT  AND  TRANSPORTING  CONTEMPLATIONS, — THE  HABIT  OF  HIS  DEVOUT  AND 
HALLOWED  SPIRIT, — 

THERE  DWELT  AS  BENEATH  THE  WINGS  OF  THE  CHERUBIM, 

BEHOLDING  ‘ THE  GLORY  OF  GOD  IN  THE  FACE  OF  JESUS  CHRIST,’  AND  WAS  ‘CHANGED  INTO 

THE  SAME  image;' 

TEACHING  BY  HIS  OWN  ATTAINMENTS,  MORE  THAN  EVEN  BY  HIS  WRITINGS,  THE  FULNESS  OF 
EVANGELICAL  PROMISES, 

AND  WITH  WHAT  INTIMACY  OF  COMMUNION  MAN  MAY  WALK  WITH  GOD. 

HE  WAS  THE  FRIEND  AND  COADJUTOR  OF  THE  REV.  JOHN  WESLEY, 

WHOSE  APOSTOLIC  VIEWS  OF  THE  DOCTRINES  OF  GENERAL  REDEMPTION,  JUSTIFICATION  BY 
FAITH,  AND  CHRISTIAN  PERFECTION,  HE  SUCCESSFULLY  DEFENDED, 

LEAVING  TO  FUTURE  AGES  AN  ABLE  EXPOSITION  OF  ‘ THE  TRUTH  WHICH  IS  ACCORDING  TO 

GODLINESS,’ 

AND  ERECTING  AN  IMPREGNABLE  RAMPART  AGAINST  PHARISAIC  AND  ANTINOMIAN  ERROR, 

IN  A SERIES  OF  WORKS,  DISTINGUISHED  BY  THE  BEAUTY  OF  THEIR  STYLE,  BY  FORCE  OF 

ARGUMENT, 

AND  BY  A GENTLE  AND  CATHOLIC  SPIRIT;  AFFORDING  AN  EDIFYING  EXAMPLE  OF  ‘SPEAKING 
THE  TRUTH  IN  LOVE,’ 

IN  A LONG  AND  ARDENT  CONTROVERSY. 

FOR  TWENTY-FIVE  YEARS,  THE  PARISH  OF  MADELEY  WAS  THE  SCENE  OF  HIS  UNEXAMPLED 
PASTORAL  LABOURS ; 

AND  HE  WAS  THERE  INTERRED,  AMIDST  THE  TEARS  AND  LAMENTATIONS  OF  THOUSANDS, 
THE  TESTIMONY  OF  THEIR  HEARTS  TO  HIS  EXALTED  PIETY,  AND  TO  HIS  UNWEARIED  EXERTIONS 
FOR  THEIR  SALVATION  I 
BUT  HIS  MEMORY  TRIUMPHED  OVER  DEATH  ; 

AND  HIS  SAINTLY  EXAMPLE  EXERTS  INCREASING  INFLUENCE  IN  THE  CHURCHES  OF  CHRIST, 
THROUGH  THE  STUDY  OF  HIS  WRITINGS,  AND  THE  PUBLICATION  OF  HIS  BIOGRAPHY. 

IN  TOKEN  OF  THEIR  VENERATION  FOR  HIS  CHARACTER, 

‘and  in  gratitude  for  the  SERVICES  RENDERED  BY  HIM  TO  THE  CAUSE  OF  TRUTH, 

THIS  MONUMENT  WAS  ERECTED  BY  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THIS  CHAPEL,  A.D.  MDCCCXXII.” 


Jackson’s  Centenary  of  Methodism,”  p.  186, 


Age  55.] 


Conclusion. 


575 


No  wonder  that^Wesley  desired  and  requested  Fletcher  to 
be  his  successor ; and  no  wonder  that,  while  among  his 
numerous  publications  there  is  only  one  biography  written  by 
himself^  that  conspicuous  exception  is  A Short  Account 
of  the  Life  and  Death  of  the  Rev.  John  Fletcher.” 

Fletcher  was  distinguished  for  his  genius  ; his  learning  ; 
and  his  biblical  and  theological  knowledge;  but  let  all 
Methodists,  throughout  the  world  and  as  long  as  Methodism 
lasts,  remember,  in  all  their  church-meetings  and  church- 
appointments,  that  Wesley’s  Designated  Successor  ” was 
pre-eminently, — ‘'A  Good  Man,  and  Full  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  of  Faith.” 


THE  end 


Hazell,  Watson,  and  Viney,  Printers,  London  and  Aylesbury. 


INDEX. 


NAMES  OF  PERSONS  AND  PLACES. 


Aberford,  119 

Abergavenny,  184 

Agutter,  Rev.  William,  144,  145 

Appian  Way,  162 

Appleton,  Mr.,  22 

Asbury,  Francis,  3 

Ashworth,  Dr.,  532 

Atcham,  21,  22,  29,  31 

Atlay,  John,  340,  433,  545,  546 

Atmore,  Charles,  542,  545 

Baratier,  M.,  145 

Bardsley,  Samuel,  548 

Barnard,  Mary,  74 

Barry,  James,  424 

Bath,  102,  121,  172,  393,  420 

Batley,  494,  496,  497 

Bayley,  Rev.  Cornelius,  461,  462,  508, 

542 

Beaumont,  John,  543 
Beaumont,  Dr.  Joseph,  543 
Bell,  George,  84,  85,  90 
Benson,  Joseph,  3,  39,  lO,  i^q,  166, 
167,  175 — 177,  179,  182,  183,  209, 
216, 220, 254, 255, 310, 326, 348, 

355—358, 367, 370, 395, 462, 532, 
533, 543, 546, 570—572 

Bentley,  Rev.  Mr.,  119 
Berkeley,  Dr.,  534 

Berridge,  Rev.  John,  51 — 53,  62,  172, 
283—285,  294,  2q8,  307,  330,  334, 
345,  371,  387 
Berwick,  iii,  154 
Birches,  The,  274 
Birstal,  487,  517 
Bouverot,  Rev.  Mr.,  531 
Boothby,  William,  442 
Bosanquet,  Miss,  15,  28,  93,  126,  400, 

401, 410, 448, 463, 467, 479—497, 
499, 529 


Bosanquet,  Claudius,  Esq.,  488,  492 
Bosanquet,  S.,  Esq.,  479,  488,  490 — 492 
Bosanquet,  S.  R.,  Esq.,  475 
Bosanquet,  William,  Esq.,  492,  494, 

556 

Bourignon,  Madam,  463 
Bradburn,  .Samuel,  266 — 268,  494 
Bradford,  493,  494,  501 
Bradford,  Joseph,  327 
Brammah,  Mrs.,  47 1 
Brecknock,  181 
Breedon,  100,  152 
Brighton,  51,  iii,  120 
Brisco,  Thomas,  487 
Bristol,  31,  33,  34,  102,  131,  144,  158, 
172,  180,  238,  242,  25s,  330,  357, 
388,  394—397,  519 
Bristol,  Earl  of,  401 
Brooke,  Robert,  506,  507 
Brooke,  Henry,  506,  507,  520,  521,  538, 

552 

Broseley,  363,  405,  430 

Brown,  Rev.  Mr.,  103,  107,  118,  331 

Buchan,  Earl  of,  123,  275 

Burchell,  Mr.,  10 

Barnet,  Rev.  Mr.,  119 

Burslem,  548 

Cartwright,  Rev.  Mr.,  21 
Cartwright,  Molly,  442,  445,  446 
Chambers,  Rev.  Mr.,  47,  55 
Chateau  d’Oex,  426,  427 
Cheek,  Rev.  Moseley,  515 
Cheshunt  College,  137 
Chester,  267,  415,  429 
Childs,  Elizabeth,  272 
Clarke,  Dr.  Adam,  268,  396,  548 
Clarke,  Mary,  33 

Coalbrook  Dale,  63,  64,  99,  363,  392, 
I 430,  445,  527 


37 


578 


Index. 


Coke,  Rev.  Dr.,  331—333.  433.  4^3. 

466,  518,  530,  531,  542,  544 
Coles,  Elisha,  155 
Conyers,  Rev.  Dr.,  119,  417 
Costerdine,  Robert,  429 
Coimd,  Mrs.,  405,  430 
Cownley,  Joseph,  90,  358 
Creighton,  Rev.  James,  544 
Crisp,  Rev.  Dr.,  194,  202,  214 
Crosby,  Sarah,  28,  33,  400,  467,  473, 

475.  479.  480,  495.  573 
Crosse,  Rev.  John,  461,  493 
Cross  Hall,  467,  486,  489,  494,  495,  502 
Crowther,  Jonathan,  82,  523 

Dartmouth,  Earl  of,  353 
Daventry,  532 

Davies,  Rev.  Howell,  149 — 151 
Dawley,  429,  503 
De  Eons,  Mr.,  489 
De  Champs,  Mr.,  ii,  488 
De  Courcy,  Rev.  Mr.,  472 
Deighton,  Rev.  John,  497 
De  Luc,  Mr.,  51 1 
Deptford,  418 
Dewsbury,  433 
Dickenson,  Rev.  Peard,  554 
Dillon,  Rev.  Mr.,  543 
Dixon,  Dr.  James,  396 
Dort,  Synod  of,  155 
Downs,  Mr.,  44 
Downes,  John,  90 
Downs,  John,  44 

Dublin,  221,  506,  508,  517—522,  530 
Dunham,  54 

Easterbrook,  Rev.  Joseph,  13 1 — 134, 
144 

Eddowes,  Mr.,  288 
Edmondson,  Jonathan,  152 
Edmunds,  Daniel,  403 
Edmunds,  Winifred,  558 
Edwards,  Richard,  14,  23,  31 
Eells,  William,  545,  546 
Elliott,  Sir  John,  388 
Elwall,  Edward,  218,  219 
Erskine,  Lady  Anne,  117,  120,  137, 
149,  171,  174 

Evans,  Caleb,  334,  347—353.  357.  358 
Everton,  51,  371 

Fennel,  John,  550 
Ferrars,  Earl  of,  50 

Fitzgerald,  Lady  Mary,  401,  473,  474, 
501, 509, 540, 552, 558, 569 
Fletcher,  Henry,  ii,  14,  18,498,  559 
Fletcher,  Mrs.,  502 — 504,  508,  ^12,  517 
—519. 521, 522, 539, 550, 553, 556, 
558—565, 568, 569, 573 
Fothergill,  Dr.,  390  ^ 

Fox,  Mr.,  370 
Furley,  Miss,  44,  46 


Garforth,  Thomas,  498 
Geneva,  7,  445,  454 
Genoa,  160 

Gilbert,  Nathaniel,  Esq.,  36,  513 
Gilbert,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  513,  514 
Gildersome,  480 

Gilpin,  Rev.  Joshua,  81,  160,  445,  455, 
512,515,520,567,572 
Glascott,  Rev.  Cradock,  120,  121,  135, 
136,  154,  189 

Glazebrook,  Rev.  James,  122,  124 
Glenorchy,  Lady,  174,  175 
Glossop,  389 
Glynne,  Mrs.,  22,  518 
Gold,  Mrs.,  476 
Good,  Mr.,  370 
Gorham,  Mr.,  371,  372,  466 
Greaves,  Rev.  Alexander  B.,  365,  366, 
368, 384, 388, 389, 404, 414, 423, 

431. 436, 438, 440, 445. 460. 461 

Green,  Rev.  Mr.,  14 
Greenwood,  Charles,  372,  373,  382,  390, 
392, 409, 432, 433, 460, 516, 541 
Greenwood,  James,  372 
Grimshaw,  Rev.  William,  97,  119,  384 

Halifax,  494 

Hampson,  John,  senior,  545,  546 
Hampson,  John,  junior,  545,  546 
Flanby,  Thomas,  3,  542 
Hare,  Mr.,  370 

Harris,  Howell,  148 — 151,  171,  182  — 
184 

Harwich,  14 1 
Hatfield,  10 
Hatherleigh,  121 

Hatton,  Miss,  90,  91,  95,  106 — 108, 
III,  115 

Hatton,  Rev.  Mr.,  80,  513,  564,  565 
Hatton,  Samuel,  90,  91,  188,  429 
Haughton,  Mr.,  78 
Haworth,  119 
Hay,  182 
Helmsley,  418 
Henderson,  John,  144 — 148 
Henderson,  Richard,  145 — 147,  149 
Hereford,  Bishop  of,  58,  389 
Hern,  Jonathan,  442 
Hervey,  Rev.  James,  345 
Hicks,  Rev.  Mr.,  52 
Hill,  Noel,  Esq.,  489 
Hill,  Sir  Richard,  40,  in,  120,  154, 
189,  215,  219,  223—237,  241,  244, 
248—252,  279—282,  285—295,  299, 
303,  307,  311— 3i3»  316—320,  322, 
330,  334,  335 

Hill,  Rev.  Rowland,  178,  186,  237,241, 
244,  245,  248,  287,  330,  334,  385, 

387,  472 

Hill,  Thomas,  Esq.,  ii,  14,  22,  25,  29, 
32,  3S»  37,  4L  47,  54,  5S>  5^,  64, 
488,  489 


Index. 


579 


Hodson,  John,  98 
Holy,  Thomas,  471 
Hopper,  Christopher,  3 
Horne,  Rev.  Melville,  88,  126,  513 — 
555 

Hotham,  Sir  Charles,  1 1 1 
Hotham,  Lady  Gertrude,  49 
Hoxton  Square,  476 
Huddersfield,  119,  121 
Hull,  370 
Hurrel,  Miss,  400 

Huntingdon,  Countess  of,  31,  32,  37, 
44, 48—52, 56, 57, 59, 62, 64, 102, 
III,  116—122, 125, 131, 134,  136, 

137, 143, 149, 151,  155,  157, 164, 

171,  172,  174,  175,  178—190,  192, 
197,  209,  264,  299—302,  305,  310, 

345.  357,  387,  393,  SOI 

Ingham,  Rev.  Benjamin,  119 
Ireland,  James,  Esq.,  103,  104,  109, 
1 15,  1 18,  120,  121,  137,  138,  140, 
155,  156,  158,  160 — 162,  171,  189, 
191,  192,  194,  197,  269,  299,  301, 
34S,  355»  365,  366,  3787  387,  388, 
392,  393>  399,  407,  409,  41O7  416— 
421,  424,  427,  436,  440,  444,  445, 
447,  450,  460,  472,  549,  557,  569 
Ireland,  Miss,  107,  108,  138,  139 

Jackson,  Daniel,  519 
Jackson,  Thomas,  332 
Janes,  Thomas,  242,  243 
Jobson,  Dr.,  505 
Johnson,  Ann,  474 
Johnson,  Dr.,  146,  347 
Jones,  Rev.  John,  141 — 144 
Jones,  Sir  William,  146 

Keen,  Mr.,  117,  137 
Kinaston,  Mr.,  489 

Kingswood,  31,  64,  131,  144,  147,  152, 
157,  462 

Kippax,  1 18 — 120 
Knipe,  Mrs.,  418 
Knowles,  Dr.,  420 
Kruse,  Mrs.,  39 
Kruse,  Peter,  39 

Lausanne,  435,  439,  440,  443,  447,  489 
Lawrence,  Sarah,  477,  518,  563 
Ledsham,  IS3 
Lee,  Mr.,  1 1 1 
Lee,  Thomas,  545 

Leeds,  I2I,  465—470,  477,  481,  532, 
541,  545—549 
Lefevre,  Mrs.,  475 
Lentzburg,  7 
Lewen,  Miss,  478,  479 
Ley,  Rev.  William,  85 
Leytonstone,  475,  476,  479,  489,  491 
Liverpool,  Lord,  401 


Llanbister,  395' 

Llangollen,  518 
Lloyd,  Rev.  David,  395 
Lloyd,  John,  17 1,  188 
London,  ii,  36—39,  41,  47,  49,  50,  84, 
III,  1 14,  180,  242,  447,  573 
Lowestoft,  369 

Loxdale,  Miss  Ann,  462 — 464,  468 
Ludlow,  78 
Lyons,  447 

Macon,  416,  417,  419 
Madan,  Rev.  Martin,  52,  79>  ^^9,  ^34, 
215,  246,  324,  361 

Madeley,  47,  55,  57—62,  76,  89,  93, 
158,  191,  255,  258,  369,  373,  382, 

389,  405,  415,  423,  429,  430,  450, 

460,  489,  492,  502,  505,  526,  527, 

530,  539,  551 

Madeley  Wood,  63,  64,  74,  76,  79,  83, 
1 18, 255, 388,  403, 429, 430, 438, 
526, 527, 547 
Maidenhead,  152 
Manchester,  461 
Marseilles,  160,  416,  448 
Mather,  Alexander,  3,  99,  209 
IMatthews,  Mary,  74,  76,  77 
Maxfield,  Rev.  Thomas,  33,  39,  84,  85, 
90,  91,  144,  180,  181 
Maxwell,  Lady,  220 
Medhurst,  Mrs.,  119,  120 
Minethorpe,  William,  99 
Montpelier,  155,  410,414,416,447,461 
Moore,  Henry,  412,  519,  1:42,  Ka-z 
More,  Miss  Hannah,  146 
Morris,  James,  347 
Murlin,  John,  415,  477,  479 

Nelson,  John,  3,  517 
Newcastle-on-Tyne,  356 
Newton,  Rev.  John,  283 
North,  Lord,  437,  438 
Norwich,  369 

Nowell,  Rev.  Dr.,  154,  206,  232 
Nyon,  4,  7,  9,  156,  162,  415,  421,  424— 
427, 431, 434-436,439, 443—446, 
453.  455>  464.  488>  498 

Oathall,  III,  1 1 2,  1 17 
Olivers,  Thomas,  3,  190,  208,  209,  232, 
29O5  335»  337?  339 

Onions,  Michael,  363,  385,  392,  432, 
445?  446 

Orton,  Miss,  1 17,  171 
Otley,  541 

Owen,  Rev.  Mr.,  189 
Owen,  John,  445,  446 

Palmer,  Robert,  388 
Pawson,  John,  3,  153,  242 
Peck  well.  Rev.  Dr.,  385,  387 
Perronet,  Charles,  252,  364,  365,  390 


58o 


Index. 


Perronet,  Miss  Damaris,  385,  389,  390, 
407,  473 

Perronet,  Edward,  285 
Perronet,  Henry,  97 
Perronet,  Rev.  Vincent,  364,  365,  385, 
390, 407,  419, 430,  432,  447,  499,  500. 
554j  556 

Perronet,  William,  389,  399,  415,  419, 
425—428,  431— 435>  439>  440,  444, 
447,  499,  500 
Pescod,  Joseph,  466 
Pewsey,  119 

Pilmoor,  Joseph,  3,  543,  545,  546 

Pine,  William,  191,  192,  349 

Pool,  John,  545 

Power,  Mr.,  420 

Powdey,  Rev.  Mr.,  119 

Powys,  Thomas,  P^sq.,  iii,  1 15,  189, 

215 

Preston,  Mr.,  370 

Price,  Dr.,  219,  334,  350—353.  357. 

358, 387 

Price,  Ow^en,  38 
Priestley,  Dr.,  531—537 
Pritchard,  John,  545 
Prothero,  Rev.  Mr.,  65 

Ramsden,  Mr.,  370 
Rankin,  Thomas,  3,  447,  464 
Reader,  Thomas,  320 
Reading,  407 

Richardson,  Rev.  Mr.,  119 
Ritchie,  Miss,  4C0,  541 
Roberts,  John,  274 
Rock  Church,  76,  79 
Rogers,  Hester  Ann,  467 — 471,  473, 
485 

Rogers,  James,  397,  467 
Romaine,  Rev.  William,  iii,  122,  IK4, 
174.  345.  472 
Rome,  410 

Roquet,  Rev.  James,  242,  243,  355,  366 
Rowlands,  Rev.  Daniel,  148,  149,  15 1, 

171,  172 

Rutherford,  Thomas,  3,  519 
Ryan,  Sarah,  28,  33,  35,  43,  46,  475— 
477.  480 

Ryland,  Rev.  Mr.,  119 

Scott,  Captain,  116 — 118,  120 
Sellon,  Rev,  Walter,  loi,  15 1,  187, 
206— 208,  219,  232,  252,  292 
Serle,  Ambrose,  294 
Shadford,  George,  3 
Sheffield,  467,  471 
Sherlock,  Bishop,  32,  534 
Shirley,  Lady  Frances,  49 
Shirley,  Rev.  Walter,  50, 149—151,171, 

172,  174,  177,  179,  183,  iSs,  188— 
197,  201 — 204,  207,  209—215,  220 — • 
223,  229,  238,  239,  334,  345,  378, 

385,  387 


Shoreham,  385,  407 
Shrewsbury,  22,  29,  31,  34,  97,  120, 
136,  191,  288,  430,  518 
Simeon,  Rev.  Charles,  551,  552 
Simpson,  Mr.,  370 
Simpson,  Rev.  David,  168,  543 
Smisby,  152 

Smith,  William,  467,  497 
Smyth,  Mrs.,  518,  519,  539 
Smyth,  William,  518,  520,  522 
South  Minims,  10 
Southey,  Robert,  329 
St.  Albans,  14 
St.  Neots,  371,  372,  466 
Stevenson,  G.  J.,  209,  549 
Stillingfleet,  Rev.  Edward,  133,  394 
Stoke  Newington,  372,  373,  382,  391, 
403,  408,  409,  484,  552 
Story,  George,  3 
Swedenborg,  Baron,  531 

Taunton,  320,  357 
Tavan,  Mr.,  489 
Taylor,  Isaac,  329 
Taylor  Richard,  479 — 482,  498 
Taylor,  Thomas,  3,  395,  542 
Terry,  Mr.,  370 
Thompson,  William,  3 
Thornton,  Mrs.,  402,  433,  516,  552 
Thornton,  John,  Esq.,  283,  284,  378, 
388,  418 

Toplady,  Rev.  Augustus,  154,  203,  206, 
208,  232,  284,  294,  312,  324,  334— 
347.  451- 

Townsend,  Rev.  Joseph,  119,  132 

Tranter,  William,  503 

Trevecca  College,  116,  117,  121,  131, 

134— 137. 141, 144. 145. 148—151. 

157, 158, 164,  171, 175—186, 209, 

559 

Tnpp,_  Ann,  28,  477,  497 
Tunbridge,  31,  32 
Turner,  Dr.,  387 

Valton,  John,  496,  498,  516 
Vaughan,  Mr.,  22,  29,  42,  268,  269, 

353.  35^ 

Venn,  Rev.  Henry,  52,  in,  119,  122, 
133,  171,  172,  174,  371,  393,  394, 

529, 569- 

Voltaire,  416,  452,  457 

Walsh,  P'ather,  215 

Walsh,  Thomas,  28,  30,  37,  38 

Wandsworth,  36 

Wase,  William,  384,  388,  405,  429, 
438,  442,  444 

Washington,  General  George,  347 
Watson,  Richard,  574 
Wellington,  99 
Wem,  90,  95,  107,  177 
Wenlock,  79 


Index. 


581 


Wesley,  Rev.  Charles,  31,  32,  35 — 38, 
41,  42,  44,  45.  47,  48,  50.  51.  55.  57, 
62 — 64,  66,  76,  78 — 80,  84,  89 — 91, 
96,  97,  129,  132,  141,  142,  152,  172, 
180,  222,  283,  310,  327,  328,  346, 
359—362,  367,  402,  433,  484,  511, 
544,  556,  557,  565 

Wesley,  Rev.  Jolin,  I — 3,  9,  16,  20,  23, 
25,  26,  28,  29,  32,  34,  36,  so,  57,  59, 
67,  82,  84,  90,  91,  96,  122,  129,  132 
—134,  136,  141,  148,  150—154,  157, 
169,  173 — 177,  180 — 209,  220,  222, 
224,  225,  231,  232,  234—238,  241 — 
243,  256,  263 — 266,  270,  280 — 282, 
285—289,  298,  304,  307,  310,  321, 
322,  324—329,  335,  336,  339—349, 
351—358,  369,  370,  372,  373,  380, 
384,  392,  394,  395,  402,  408,  410, 
41 1,  430, 433,  451, 460,  463,  465,477. 
484,  485,  497,  502,  508,  532,  533,  541 
—549,  551,  558,  566,  570,  572,  575 


West  Bromwich,  366 
Whatcoat,  Richard,  3 
Whitefield,  Rev.  George,  31,  67,  114 — 
1 16,  1 19,  121,  134—136,  148,  173, 
174,  180,  186,  187,  204,  265,  345 
Whitehead,  Dr.  John,  264,  265 
Wilberforce,  William,  Esq.,  146 
Wilcocks,  Samuel,  274 
Wilkes,  John,  270 — 273 
Wilkes,  Sarah,  272 

Williams,  Rev.  Peter,  149,  150,  171,  172 
Williams,  Rev.  William,  148 — 150,  171, 
172 

Wood,  Enoch,  548 
Wroxeter,  29 

Yates,  Mr.,  523 
Yelling,  371 
York,  120,  370 

York,  Thomas,  403,  405,  424,  434,  438, 
441 


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